Determination of complexity factor and its relationship with accuracy of representation for DEM terrain

Abstract

Based on the estimating rule of the normal vector angles between two adjacent terrain units, we use the concept of terrain complexity factor to quantify the terrain complexity of DEM, and then the formula of terrain complexity factor in Raster DEM and TIN DEM is deduced theoretically. In order to make clear how the terrain complexity factor ECF and the average elevation h affect the accuracy of DEM terrain representation RMSEEt, the formula of Gauss synthetical surface is applied to simulate several real terrain surfaces, each of which has different terrain complexity. Through the statistical analysis of linear regression in simulation data, the linear equation between accuracy of DEM terrain representation RMSEEt, terrain complexity factor ECF and the average elevation h is achieved. A new method is provided to estimate the accuracy of DEM terrain representation RMSEEt with a certain terrain complexity and it gives convincing theoretical evidence for DEM production and the corresponding error research in the future.