Digital Terrain Simulation for Preliminary Territory Analysis
Abstract
The paper presents a technique for determining average slope and terrain complexity index per regions we named "blocks"; the data will subsequently be used for digital terrain simulation in engineering design problems. We also describe a method for finding the block plane, which allows average slope to be determined quantitatively and qualitatively. It is possible to locate the steepest-descent vector by computing the attitude of the block plane. These steepest-descent vectors of terrain blocks indicate that surface runoff occurs on the terrain. We propose a technique using terrain blocks for estimating the terrain complexity index of a region. Determining average slope and terrain complexity per block facilitates visualising these parameters in the form of a choropleth map. A digital terrain model partitioned into block-shaped regions makes it possible to perform preliminary visual analysis of the territory represented, which is useful for various engineering design problems and optimal decision making in the case of multiple options.