Probability maps as a measure of reliability for indivisibility analysis

Abstract

Digital terrain models (DTMs) represent segments of spatial data bases related to presentation of terrain features and landforms. Square grid elevation models (DEMs) have emerged as the most widely used structure during the past decade because of their simplicity and simple computer implementation. They have become an important segment of Topographic Information Systems (TIS), storing natural and artificial landscape in forms of digital models. This kind of a data structure is especially suitable for morph metric terrain evaluation and analysis, which is very important in environmental and urban planning and Earth surface modeling applications. One of the most often used functionalities of Geographical information systems software packages is indivisibility or view shed analysis of terrain. Indivisibility determination from analog topographic maps may be very exhausting, because of the large number of profiles that have to be extracted and compared. Terrain representation in form of the DEMs databases facilitates this task. This paper describes simple algorithm for terrain view shed analysis by using DEMs database structures, taking into consideration the influence of uncertainties of such data to the results obtained thus far. The concept of probability maps is introduced as a mean for evaluation of results, and is presented as thematic display.