TITLE:
LAN Tool: A GIS Tool for the Improvement of Digital Elevation Models Using Drainage Network Attributes
AUTHORS:
Alexandra Gemitzi, Odysseas Christou
KEYWORDS:
Digital Elevation Model (DEM); Geographical Information Systems (GIS); Drainage Network; Spatial Interpolation; Hydrologic Modeling
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.5 No.4,
July
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: Digital
Elevation Models (DEMs) are constructed using altitude point data and various
interpolation techniques. The quality and accuracy of DEMs depend on data point
density and the interpolation technique used. Usually however, altitude point
data especially in plain areas do not provide realistic DEMs, mainly due to
errors produced as a result of the interpolation technique, resulting in
imprecise topographic representation of the landscape. Such inconsistencies,
which are mainly in the form of surface depressions, are especially crucial
when DEMs are used as input to hydrologic modeling for impact studies, as they
have a negative impact on the model’s performance. This study presents a Geographical
Information System (GIS) tool, named LAN (Line Attribute Network), for the
improvement of DEM construction techniques and their spatial accuracy, using
drainage network attributes. The developed tool does not alter the
interpolation technique, but provides higher point density in areas where most
DEM problems occur, such as lowland areas or places where artificial
topographic features exist. Application of the LAN tool in two test sites
showed that it provides considerable DEM improvement.