THEORETICAL MODELS OF THE ACCURACY OF DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS: AN EVALUATION AND SOME OBSERVATIONS

This paper is an attempt to evaluate existing theoretical models for the accuracy of digital terrain models (DTM) both through a theoretical analysis and by experimental tests. In order to extend the discussion, some comments on the general form in which a DTM accuracy model should be constructed are also made and a possible solution is offered.     

Generation and evaluation of multitemporal digital terrain models of the Mt. Everest area from different optical sensors

Multitemporal digital terrain models (DTM) are an important source for many purposes such as the detection of areas, which are susceptible to natural hazards such as landslides and glacial lake outburst floods, or for the examination of changes in glacier thickness. To exploit the potential of stereo satellite and aerial imagery for time series analysis, the employed methodology and software can be critical. A statistical analysis based on quartiles is presented to eliminate the influence of registration and elevation errors in DTMs. For our analysis, we used multi-temporal airborne and spaceborne stereoscopic images. The oldest images were recorded in the 1960s by the US American reconnaissance satellite Corona, while the most recent imagery are 2007 Cartosat-1 stereo scenes, along with one ASTER stereo pair. Complex panoramic distortion and limited spatial resolution resulted in the Corona and ASTER DTMs having the highest RMSEz. Due to differing acquisition techniques, applied software packages and temporal differences DTMs will never be identical. Therefore, we propose a relative vertical accuracy assessment with a master DTM. We chose the Cartosat-1 DTM as it showed the highest absolute accuracy. Inaccuracies between the master and the slave DTMs were adjusted by means of trend surfaces and outliers were successfully eliminated applying the interquartile range.     

山区植被类型信息提取方法研究

根据遥感图像的光谱信息和空间信息特征及不同植被的分布规律,研究利用计算机处理技术提取山区植被类型的方法。分类过程采用四个步骤完成：①均一目标的象限四分树提取分类；②多光谱数据的最小距离分类；③综合利用波谱曲线的形态和地形数据进行分类；④高程数据修正分类。在分类处理过程中,分别利用了图像的空间信息、光谱信息以及地形数据。利用该分类方法在实验小区内进行植被类型提取试验,其精度为90%.与最大似然分类方法所得结果相比较,其分类精度提高了10%.     

Astronomical-topographic levelling using high-precision astrogeodetic vertical deflections and digital terrain model data

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, a technological change took place in geodetic astronomy by the development of Digital Zenith Camera Systems (DZCS). Such instruments provide vertical deflection data at an angular accuracy level of 0.̋1 and better. Recently, DZCS have been employed for the collection of dense sets of astrogeodetic vertical deflection data in several test areas in Germany with high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) data (10–50 m resolution) available. These considerable advancements motivate a new analysis of the method of astronomical-topographic levelling, which uses DTM data for the interpolation between the astrogeodetic stations. We present and analyse a least-squares collocation technique that uses DTM data for the accurate interpolation of vertical deflection data. The combination of both data sets allows a precise determination of the gravity field along profiles, even in regions with a rugged topography. The accuracy of the method is studied with particular attention on the density of astrogeodetic stations. The error propagation rule of astronomical levelling is empirically derived. It accounts for the signal omission that increases with the station spacing. In a test area located in the German Alps, the method was successfully applied to the determination of a quasigeoid profile of 23 km length. For a station spacing from a few 100 m to about 2 km, the accuracy of the quasigeoid was found to be about 1–2 mm, which corresponds to a relative accuracy of about 0.05−0.1 ppm. Application examples are given, such as the local and regional validation of gravity field models computed from gravimetric data and the economic gravity field determination in geodetically less covered regions.     

ON THE MEASURE OF DIGITAL TERRAIN MODEL ACCURACY

In digital terrain model (DTM) production, one important concern is the accuracy and a comprehensive measure of DTM accuracy is of significance. In this paper, the existing measures are evaluated; the potential measures are also discussed and, finally, a more comprehensive measure is recommended.     

三维激光扫描数据获取高分辨率DTM试验研究

三维激光扫描技术能够提供实体表面点云数据,可用于获取高精度高分辨率数字地形模型。本文以重庆万州区付家岩滑坡体为例探讨了采用三维激光扫描监测技术获取数字地形模型的方法,着重讨论了相关点云数据处理流程和关键技术问题。通过结合差分GPS技术进行激光数据的相对定位和绝对定位、去噪、拼接等方法,获得了该区域地表高精度地形数据,并生成了相应的数字高程模型。试验结果初步说明该技术可用于获取小尺度高精度高分辨率数字地形模型,具有一定的应用前景。     

机载LiDAR生成亚热带森林林下DTM的地面误差分析

目前LiDAR技术已经成为DTM的主要生产方法。地面误差对LiDAR生成DTM的精度影响比较明显,特别是由于亚热带森林植被覆盖区LiDAR激光点云少,生成的DTM更复杂,需要分析地面误差对LiDAR生成林下DTM的精度影响。本文以华南农业大学增城教学科研基地为研究对象,从森林郁闭度和坡度两个方面探讨了地面误差对机载LiDAR数据生成林下DTM精度的影响。研究结果发现高程误差会随郁闭度的增大而增大;而随坡度变化趋势不明显,但是坡度为15°时成为误差的分水岭,其前后误差差异比较明显。总体而言,郁闭度的影响更为明显。     

Inpho软件在利用ADS80数据制作正射影像中的应用

针对湖北省农村土地确权1∶2 000基础影像数据制作的生产实际情况,介绍了利用Inpho软件下和利用ADS80数据制作正射影像的流程,重点探讨了Inpho软件处理DTM匹配的精度与效率,DTM滤波的算法参数和效果,以及DOM的精度和质量。     

数字地形模型的质量控制

本文在分析、研究现有解决DTM质量控制的各种方法的基础上,提出了利用实测断面数据的所谓“断面内插分析法”。其特点是全面考虑了各种因素的影响,完整而可靠地描述各种因素对最终DTM数据精度的影响。实验证明:该法是最稳定、最可靠的,它具有简便易行的特点,几乎不增加多少作业负担,易于作业人员所接受,为DTM数据获取提供了一套非常实用的质量控制方案。     

Digital Terrain Model Resolution and its Influence on Estimating the Extent of Rockfall Areas

As rockfall can cause a great deal of damage, it is essential to know its spatial propagation. Rockfall models are sensitive to the resolution of input data, i.e. the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) used. Nowadays, high resolution elevation data are available area‐wide from airborne laser scanning (ALS). However, rockfall models are designed for analysis on a certain scale, which means that high resolution input might not necessarily improve model results (e.g. for regional scale studies). Our aim is to estimate the reach of rockfall by analysing different input resolutions of an ALS DTM. The presented empirically–based model, implemented in Python 2.7, is a modified version of the zenital method including an iterative random walk trajectory model, which is designed for rockfall hazard assessment at the regional scale. Trajectories and rockfall probability maps are generated for selected DTM input resolutions. The comparison shows that high resolution DTMs do consider local topography better and thus lead to more realistic results than low resolution DTMs.     

Improvement of the empirical thermospheric model DTM: DTM94 – a comparative review of various temporal variations and prospects in space geodesy applications

The Drag Temperature Model (1978) has been improved to respond better to the actual requirements of space geodesy, especially under extreme solar and geomagnetic conditions. Extended data and an improved algorithm have been considered, leading to valuable improvements. Temporal variations of temperature of the thermopause, total density and major chemical constituent density are reviewed and compared to the DTM94, DTM78 and MSIS86 models. A comparison with data is performed, giving the mean ratios between observed and model values with their root mean squares for different physical and geometric conditions. This comparison is made for the three models and includes data used in the modelling as well as external data. The limits of the thermosphere modelling are discussed. Received: 3 December 1996 / Accepted: 4 August 1997     

Laser scanning—surveying and mapping agencies are using a new technique for the derivation of digital terrain models

A user group of the Surveying and Mapping Agencies (SMA) of the Federal States of Germany tested several datasets for the derivation of high-quality Digital Terrain Models (DTM) which were collected by laser scanning. Since the results were very promising, a standard procedure for verification and handling of the data was proposed. Because the ground points that are delivered by the contractor are the result of an automated filtering process, final editing is necessary to correct remaining misclassifications. This can be carried out using photogrammetric stereo models or through comparison of the results with large scale topographic maps. Both approaches lead to a high-quality DTM with much shorter production time and less costs as compared to the photogrammetric methods used up to now.     

综合EGM2008模型和SRTM/DTM2006.0剩余地形模型的GPS高程转换方法

利用SRTM以及DTM2006.0全球地形模型构建剩余地形模型（RTM）数据,并将其转换为RTM高程异常。通过GPS/水准点的优化选择法,选择少量GPS/水准点的实测高程异常,扣除EGM2008模型以及SRTM与DTM2006.0模型求得的剩余模型高程异常,对残余高程异常进行拟合,从而进一步提高GPS高程转换的精度。最...     

Mt. Etna volcano high-resolution topography: airborne LiDAR modelling validated by GPS data

High-resolution digital topography is essential for land management and planning in any type of territory as well as the reproduction of the Earth surface in a geocoded digital format that allows several Digital Earth applications. In a volcanic environment, Digital Elevation Models are a valid reference for multi-temporal analyses aimed to observe frequent changes of a volcano edifice and for the relative detailed morphological and structural analyses. For the first time, a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) and a DSM (Digital Surface Model) covering the entire Mt. Etna volcano (Italy) derived from the same airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) are here presented. More than 250 million 3D LiDAR points have been processed to distinguish ground elements from natural and anthropic features. The end product is the highly accurate representation of Mt. Etna landscape (DSM) and ground topography (DTM) dated 2005. Both models have a high spatial resolution of 2?m and cover an area of 620?km². The DTM has been validated by GPS ground control points. The vertical accuracy has been evaluated, resulting in a root-mean-square-error of ±?0.24?m. The DTM is available as electronic supplement and represents a valid support for various scientific studies.     

An algorithm for automatically computing the horizontal shift between homologous contours from DTMs

The algorithm we present here is useful for measuring the planimetric discrepancy between two models which can be represented by contours. In cartography the paradigm of such models is represented by digital terrain models (DTMs). The measure we propose is based on an area enclosed between homologous contours (two level contours, each belonging to two different models). Our measure is similar to another used previously, although, in the previous studies, the area enclosed between homologous contours was computed manually or it was restricted to particular conditions. The innovation of our approach consists of the automation of the entire process and in the constraint elimination. The main problem to solve before computing the horizontal shift measure is how to determine the area enclosed between homologous contours. This is a problem because there is no bijective correspondence between homologous contours, and therefore the identification of the homologous contours is not a trivial task. Our approach overcomes this difficulty by closing following the limit of the DTM the open contours (the contours which cut the limit of the DTM) and classifying them by the external level. We achieve the automation assisted by the Boolean polygon operations, specifically using the symmetric difference operation. Our algorithm facilitates the computation of accuracy of a DTM by comparison with another and it is applicable in such fields as hydrology (precision estimation of the hydrological features), cartographic generalization, and civil engineering. Finally we use our measure for estimating the planimetric discrepancy between the same streams derived from different DEMs (different sources and precisions).     

Prediction of vertical deflections from high-degree spherical harmonic synthesis and residual terrain model data

This study demonstrates that in mountainous areas the use of residual terrain model (RTM) data significantly improves the accuracy of vertical deflections obtained from high-degree spherical harmonic synthesis. The new Earth gravitational model EGM2008 is used to compute vertical deflections up to a spherical harmonic degree of 2,160. RTM data can be constructed as difference between high-resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data and the terrain model DTM2006.0 (a spherical harmonic terrain model that complements EGM2008) providing the long-wavelength reference surface. Because these RTM elevations imply most of the gravity field signal beyond spherical harmonic degree of 2,160, they can be used to augment EGM2008 vertical deflection predictions in the very high spherical harmonic degrees. In two mountainous test areas—the German and the Swiss Alps—the combined use of EGM2008 and RTM data was successfully tested at 223 stations with high-precision astrogeodetic vertical deflections from recent zenith camera observations (accuracy of about 0.1 arc seconds) available. The comparison of EGM2008 vertical deflections with the ground-truth astrogeodetic observations shows root mean square (RMS) values (from differences) of 3.5 arc seconds for ξ and 3.2 arc seconds for η, respectively. Using a combination of EGM2008 and RTM data for the prediction of vertical deflections considerably reduces the RMS values to the level of 0.8 arc seconds for both vertical deflection components, which is a significant improvement of about 75%. Density anomalies of the real topography with respect to the residual model topography are one factor limiting the accuracy of the approach. The proposed technique for vertical deflection predictions is based on three publicly available data sets: (1) EGM2008, (2) DTM2006.0 and (3) SRTM elevation data. This allows replication of the approach for improving the accuracy of EGM2008 vertical deflection predictions in regions with a rough topography or for improved validation of EGM2008 and future high-degree spherical harmonic models by means of independent ground truth data.     

香港DTM快速建立的研究

本文论述了建立1：5000香港DTM的基本过程，总结了在DTM生产实践中的技术和管理上所取得的一些经验，对生产中各环节的实际问题提出一些建议，对提高所建立DTM的精度与可用性及提高工作效率，具有一定的意义，为以后各种比例尺的DTM生产提供参考。     

Analysis of the factors affecting LiDAR DTM accuracy in a steep shrub area

The creation of a quality Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is essential for representing and analyzing the Earth in a digital form. The continuous improvements in the acquisition and the potential of airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data are increasing the range of applications of this technique to the study of the Earth surface. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal parameters for calculating a DTM by using an iterative algorithm to select minimum elevations from LiDAR data in a steep mountain area with shrub vegetation. The parameters were: input data type, analysis window size, and height thresholds. The effects of slope, point density, and vegetation on DTM accuracy were also analyzed. The results showed that the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) was obtained with an analysis window size of 10 m, 5 m, and 2.5 m, rasterized data as input data, and height thresholds equal to or greater than 1.5 m. These parameters showed a RMSE of 0.19 m. When terrain slope varied from 0–10% to 50–60%, the RMSE increased by 0.11 m. The RMSE decreased by 0.06 m when point density was increased from 4 to 8 points/m², and increased by 0.05 m in dense vegetation areas.     

An Approach to Single Image Automatic Orientation and Point Determination by Using Ortho-Images and a Dtm

This paper describes an approach to single image automatic orientation and point determination by using current ortho-images and a DTM, and the experience gained in its implementation. The procedure proposed automatically extracts and matches feature points in evenly distributed patches on aerial images and ortho-images. A large number of image measurements (up to several thousand) are obtained in this process and are included in a robust space resection to determine the orientation parameters of the aerial image. For point determination with a single image, a method is formalised which integrates the DTM interpolation into the space resection so that the 3D ground coordinates of the image points can be determined in a unified mathematical model. Tests and analyses of this method show that the large number of automatic image measurements relieves the requirement for complicated and precise feature extraction and matching methods. The ground points obtained from single image intersection have an accuracy of approximately 1 pixel in planimetry, which fulfils the requirement for ortho-image updating. The elevation accuracy is mainly dependent on the quality of the current DTM and the interpolation method applied to it.     

The strategy for the determination of a new local geoid in China

The strategy for the determination of a new local geoid in China is: (1) This task should be fulfilled in a short time as possible; (2) The new local geoid can be with different resolution and accuracy, which depend on the needs of the social and economical development in different regions; (3) The newly established height anomaly control network, i.e. a gridded GPS levelling network should combine as possible with the existing astro-gravimetric levelling network; (4) Global geopotential model, DTM and surface gravity data are used to densify the resolution of the local geoid with remove-restore technique. The accuracy and resolution possibly obtained nowadays within the capability of China are discussed. The required accuracies for GPS positioning, levelling and coordinate transformation are suggested.