Digital Terrain Modelling

Digital terrain models have found wide applications in disciplines such as mapping, remote sensing, civil engineering, mining engineering, geology, geomorphology, military engineering, land planning, and communications. "Digital Terrain Modeling: Principles and Methodology" is the only authored book to provide comprehensive coverage of recent developments in the field. The volume includes an examination of data acquisition and a review of the presentation of DTMs in databases, in contour form, and in various forms of computer graphics. It explores the theories, methods, and algorithms of digital terrain modeling, and focuses on quality control and accuracy.

This book discusses extensions of digital terrain models for specific problems and anticipates where this research will lead. Topics include terrain analysis, sampling strategy, acquisition methodology, surface modeling principles, triangulation algorithms, interpolation techniques, on-line and off-line quality control in data acquisition, DTM accuracy assessment and mathematical models for DTM accuracy prediction, multi-scale representation, data management, contouring, visual analysis (or visualization), the derivation of various types of terrain parameters, and future development and applications.

Digital terrain representation. Data Acquisition Methodology. Terrain Surface Modeling (Reconstruction). Algorithms for Triangular Irregular Network Formation. Interpolation Methods. Data Quality Control. Mathematical Models for DTM Accuracy.Multi-Scale Representation of Digital Elevation Models. DTM Data Management. Contouring from DTM. DTM-Based Terrain Analysis (DTM Interpretation). Visualization of DTM Surface. Applications. Integration with GIS. Index.