Abstract
This paper proposes novel improvements in the traditional algorithms for the identification of ridge and channel (also called ravines) topographic features on raster digital elevation models (DEMs). The overall methodology consists of two main steps: (1) smoothing the DEM by applying a mean filter, and (2) detection of ridge and channel features as cells with positive and negative plan curvature respectively, along with a decline and incline in plan curvature away from the cell in direction orthogonal to the feature axis respectively. The paper demonstrates a simple approach to visualize the multi-scale structure of terrains and utilize it for semiautomated topographic feature identification. Despite its simplicity, the revised algorithm produced markedly superior outputs than a comparatively sophisticated feature extraction algorithm based on conic-section analysis of terrain.
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© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Rana, S. (2006). Use of Plan Curvature Variations for the Identification of Ridges and Channels on DEM. In: Riedl, A., Kainz, W., Elmes, G.A. (eds) Progress in Spatial Data Handling. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-35589-8_49
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-35589-8_49
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-35588-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-35589-2
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