Systematic Error Reduction in Geometric Measurements Based on Altimetric Enrichment of Geographical Features

Abstract

In most GIS software, geometric measurements (length, area) computed from the geometry of vector objects are performed in two dimensions, which generates systematic underestimates. Several reasons can explain this critical situation: two of these include deficiencies in the geometric modelling of vector data and absence of correctly implemented methods for computing measurements using altitudes. To reduce the systematic error in geometric measurements caused by the omission of altitudes, methods are proposed to (1) enrich the geometry of geographical features using external altimetric data and (2) compute length and area using altitudes. These propositions are implemented in a model that allows any GIS user to take terrain into account in the computation of length and area and estimate the underestimation involved in two-dimensional measurements. Experiments are finally performed to illustrate the functioning of the model and test the impact of the quality of several altimetric data sources. Results demonstrate that freely available digital elevation models reduce measurement error. Based on comparisons with high-resolution databases, the results also show that omitting the terrain is not sufficient to assess the entire measurement error, which is also affected by other processes, such as digitizing error and cartographic projection.