Curvature derived from LiDAR digital elevation models as simple indicators of debris-flow susceptibility

To mitigate the damage caused by debris flows resulting from heavy precipitation and to aid in evacuation plan preparation, areas at risk should be mapped on a scale appropriate for affected individuals and communities. We tested the effectiveness of simply identifying debris-flow hazards through automated derivation of surface curvatures using LiDAR digital elevation models. We achieved useful correspondence between plan curvatures and areas of existing debris-flow damage in two localities in Japan using the analysis of digital elevation models(DEMs). We found that plan curvatures derived from 10 m DEMs may be useful to indicate areas that are susceptible to debris flow in mountainous areas. In residential areas located on gentle sloping debris flow fans, the greatest damage to houses was found to be located in the elongated depressions that are connected to mountain stream valleys. Plan curvaturederived from 5 m DEM was the most sensitive indicators for susceptibility to debris flows.     

A SIMILARITY MEASURE FOR CHEMICAL DATA: APPLICATIONS TO CLUSTER ANALYSIS

The results of unsupervised pattern recognition methods are critically dependent on the measure ofsimilarity used for clustering objects. There is little a priori information available on the relative utilityof various similarity measures. We introduce here an alternative similarity measure based on the metrictensor measure (MTM). Two standard clustering strategies are tested with the proposed similaritymeasure: hierarchical clustering and the K-median method. As data we use the ARCH obsidian data,a data set on Hungarian coal, and trace element data on Hungarian paprika. Differences from theMahalanobis distance measure are described for intraclass relations.     

Inversion Reconstruction of Gravity Potential Based on Gravity Gradients

A new method was developed for the inversion reconstruction of gravity potential. This method offers the possibility to determine the potential function and all of its important derivatives using the common inversion of gravity gradients and the first derivatives of potential. Gravity gradients can be originated from Torsion balance measurements, while the first derivatives of potential can be derived from the deflections of the vertical data. Different fields having great importance can be originated from this reconstructed potential function at any points of the investigated area. The advantage of this method is that the solution can be performed by a significantly over-determined inverse problem. Test computations were performed for the inversion reconstruction of gravity potential. There were 248 torsion balance measurements and 13 points where the deflections of the vertical are known in our test area. This inversion algorithm is rather stable. Gravity potential, the first and the second derivatives of the potential were determined for the test area by this suggested method. This method gives a good possibility for a useful geodetic application; deflections of the vertical based on torsion balance measurements can be determined for the whole area for each torsion balance stations.     

Hillslope-to-valley transition morphology: New opportunities from high resolution DTMs

The search for the optimal spatial scale for observing landforms to understand physical processes is a fundamental issue in geomorphology. Topographic attributes derived from Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) such as slope, curvature and drainage area provide a basis for topographic analyses. The slope–area relationship has been used to distinguish diffusive (hillslope) from linear (valley) processes, and to infer dominant sediment transport processes. In addition, curvature is also useful in distinguishing the dominant landform process. Recent topographic survey techniques such as LiDAR have permitted detailed topographic analysis by providing high-quality DTMs. This study uses LiDAR-derived DTMs with a spatial scale between 1 and 30 m in order to find the optimal scale for observation of dominant landform processes in a headwater basin in the eastern Italian Alps where shallow landsliding and debris flows are dominant. The analysis considered the scaling regimes of local slope versus drainage area, the spatial distribution of curvature, and field observations of channel head locations. The results indicate that: i) hillslope-to-valley transitions in slope–area diagrams become clearer as the DTM grid size decreases due to the better representation of hillslope morphology, and the topographic signature of valley incision by debris flows and landslides is also best displayed with finer DTMs; ii) regarding the channel head distribution in the slope–area diagrams, the scaling regimes of local slope versus drainage area obtained with grid sizes of 1, 3, and 5 m are more consistent with field data; and iii) the use of thresholds of standard deviation of curvature, particularly at the finest grid size, were proven as a useful and objective methodology for recognizing hollows and related channel heads.     

非线性普通秩亏自由网平差模型强度曲率度量

在非线性平差模型强度的曲率度量基础上, 提出非线性普通秩亏自由网平差模型强度的曲率度量。这对有效地解决非线性普通秩亏自由网平差模型线性化近似的容许问题,并对分析非线性普通秩亏自由网平差的参数置信域以及非线性最小二乘估计量的统计性质具有重要意义。     

Using hydrologic and hydraulically derived geometric parameters of perennial rivers to determine minimum water requirements of ecological habitats (case study: Mazandaran Sea Basin—Iran)

This paper studies one of the most important problems of dry countries that are confronted with water deficit and the competition of rivals to allocate water. Some common methods have been investigated for computing the minimum water requirement to save a river's biological activity. After a discussion of the currently used method in Iran (the Tenant Method), the application of some other methods, which are known as Hydraulic and Hydrological Methods, is illustrated. The case study is a river in the northern part of Iran and this research addresses the critical situation of this river in near future regarding the planned anthropogenic alteration and its consequences. It has been shown that the application of environmental water allocation methods that have no background in a region could be misleading. The first proposed method is the Texas Method, in which flexibility in water allocation helps to develop an integrated river management paradigm in the study area. The second preferred method is a Hydraulic Method, by which the implementation of morphological parameters or flow geometrical properties could sustain physical habitat within an acceptable range in terms of depth, width, velocity, and bed shear stress. In the case study, the Maximum Curvature Method was superior to the Slope Method. The investigation revealed that using a widely recommended slope of 1 for the discharge‐wetted perimeter function can lead to an overestimated and unacceptable discharge. The Tenant Method in respect to minimum environmental flow requirement yielded the weakest result, and it has been illustrated that its application might impose irrecoverable shock to the ecosystem. The Flow Duration Curve Method (the Q₉₅ Method), in spite of its subjectivity, showed more compatibility with the river's condition in comparison with the Tenant Method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elementary forms for land surface segmentation: The theoretical basis of terrain analysis and geomorphological mapping

Land surface morphology is fundamental to geomorphological mapping and many GIS applications. Review and comparison of various approaches to segmentation of the land surface reveals common features, and permits development of a broad theoretical basis for segmentation and for characterization of segments and their boundaries. Within the context of defining landform units that maximise internal homogeneity and external differences, this paper introduces the concept of elementary forms (segments, units) defined by constant values of fundamental morphometric properties and limited by discontinuities of the properties. The basic system of form-defining properties represents altitude and its derivatives, constant values of which provide elementary forms with various types of homogeneity. Every geometric type of elementary form can be characterized by a defining function, which is a specific case of the general polynomial fitted function. Various types of boundary discontinuity and their connections and transformations into other types of morphological unit boundaries are analysed.The wealth of types of elementary forms and their boundaries is potentially unbounded and thus is sufficient to cover the real variety of landforms. Elementary forms in the basic set proposed here have clear potential for genetic and dynamic interpretation. A brief worked example documents the possibility of analytical computation of various models of ideal elementary forms for particular segments of landform. Ideal elementary forms can be considered as attractors, to which the affinity of surface segments can be measured by multivariate statistical methods. The use of the concept of elementary forms in landscape segmentation is promising and it could be adapted for elementary segmentation of various other spatial fields.     

Curvature ductility of columns and structural displacement ductility in RC frame structures subjected to ground motions

This paper examined the statistical relationship between the curvature ductility demands of columns and the global displacement ductility demands of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures when subjected to earthquakes. Elements with a designated moment–curvature relationship were adopted for both beam and column elements, and five-story and ten-story RC frame numerical structures were established. Using pushover analysis and earthquake nonlinear dynamic time-history analysis, the maximum global displacement ductility demands of the structure and the maximum curvature ductility demands of the columns were determined. The effects of the spectral acceleration and the strong column factor on ductility demands were analyzed, and the quantitative relationship between the curvature ductility demands of columns and the global displacement ductility demands of frame structures were established. Moreover, the validity of the established relationship was further tested and verified through a real-world application. The results show that the maximum curvature ductility demands of the columns and the maximum displacement ductility demands of the structure were positively associated with the spectral acceleration and negatively associated with the strong column factor. A proposed first-degree linear relationship between curvature ductility of columns and structural displacement ductility in RC frame structures with two parameters was obtained by curve fitting, while considering the effect of the strong column factor. The model was highly correlated with the sampling analysis data. Applying the empirical model established in this study is a simple and effective means to guide the design of ductility and the assessment of RC frame columns.     

反正切函数拟合下的地震数据体断裂刻画方法

利用界面的形状或者其不连续性是基于叠后地震数据刻画断裂的两种主要方法,根据实际地震资料的特点,两种方法各有其优劣性.对于同界面形状相关的断裂刻画方法,较常用的为地震曲率属性.受实际断裂模型的制约,在曲率属性的基础上,曲率变化率表现出对断裂更强的相关性及敏感性.本文发展了以反正切函数为准线的柱面拟合法来刻画断裂,主要包括两个步骤,分别为:一、柱面直母线的拟合;二、柱面准线拟合及曲率变化率的求取.实际地震资料计算结果表明,该方法对断裂刻画的精度高于传统方法,能够揭示更多的断裂细节,特别是对于地震剖面上不易识别的小断距断裂,亦能够清晰的刻画,同时具有较高的信噪比.