Recent Advances and Challenges in Geomorphometry

Abstract

This chapter describes the current state-of-the-art and some of the drivers for the rapid development of digital terrain analysis and modeling over the past five decades. The chapter starts with brief descriptions of the role of digital elevation models (DEMs), scale, and terrain analysis software. The attention then shifts to the major accomplishments of the past 20years and current state-of-the-art. This part describes the typical digital terrain analysis workflow, focusing on innovations and the methods used today for the construction of DEMs, the calculation of land-surface parameters, the delineation of landforms and land-surface objects, and the measurement of error and uncertainty. The next part focuses on future issues, needs and opportunities. There is a need to find ways to: (1) clarify and strengthen the role of theory; (2) rediscover and use existing knowledge; (3) develop new digital terrain analysis methods; (4) use provenance, credibility, and digital terrain application-context knowledge; (5) develop high-fidelity, multi-resolution DEMs; (6) develop and embrace new visualization opportunities; and (7) adopt and use new information technologies and workflows. The chapter concludes with some final comments and a call for action that uses two examples to show how geomorphometry can be adapted and used to help solve some of the problems that threaten the environment and human wellbeing.