Analysis of the Possibilities of Using Different Resolution Digital Elevation Models in the Study of Microrelief on the Example of Terrain Passability

Wojciech Dawid,Krzysztof Pokonieczny

doi:10.3390/rs12244146

Wojciech Dawid, Krzysztof Pokonieczny

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12244146

Copy DOI

Journal: Remote Sensing	Publication Date: Dec 18, 2020
Citations: 14	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Military University of Technology in Warsaw

Abstract

In this article, we discuss issues concerning the development of detailed passability maps, which are used in the crisis management process and for military purposes. The paper presents the authorial methodology of the automatic generation of these maps with the use of high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) acquired from airborne laser scanning (light detection and ranging (LIDAR)) and photogrammetric data obtained from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) measurements. The aim of the article is to conduct a detailed comparison of these models in the context of their usage in passability map development. The proposed algorithm of map generation was tested comprehensively in terms of the source of the used spatial data, the resolution, and the types of vehicles moving in terrain. Tests were conducted on areas with a diversified landform, with typical forms of relief that hinder vehicle movement (bluffs and streams). Due to the huge amount of data to be processed, the comprehensive analysis of the possibilities of using DEMs in different configurations of pixel size was executed. This allowed for decreasing the resolution of the model while maintaining the appropriate accuracy properties of the resulting passability map. The obtained results showed insignificant disparities between both sources of used DEMs and demonstrated that using the model with the 2.5 m pixel size did not significantly degrade the accuracy of the passability maps, which has a huge impact on their generation time.

Highlights

Effective conduction of the action connected with, in the broad sense, crisis management requires appropriate planning
The modelling of the terrain passability for different kinds of vehicles is immeasurably important in the planning of military operations, where the necessity of conducting fast and enemy-surprising maneuvers forces the relocation of military vehicles outside the regular road network
We used digital elevation models (DEMs) created on the basis of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry data in different resolutions: 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 m as well as the parameters of three kinds of vehicles widely applicable in the Polish Armed Forces: Honker, Star, and Humvee

Summary

Introduction

Effective conduction of the action connected with, in the broad sense, crisis management requires appropriate planning. The modelling of the terrain passability for different kinds of vehicles is immeasurably important in the planning of military operations, where the necessity of conducting fast and enemy-surprising maneuvers forces the relocation of military vehicles outside the regular road network. The process of the passability terrain determination itself, in its easiest form, is based on the division of terrain into three classes: GO, SLOW GO, and NO GO terrain [2]. The development of such maps is, an example of the terrain classification. We see this most often in the context of the classification of satellite images to extract particular elements of land cover [3], soils [4], and land development [5] classes

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion