A discrete approach to compute terrain morphology

Abstract

We consider the problem of extracting morphology of a terrain represented as a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN). We propose a new algorithm and compare it with representative algorithms of the main approaches existing in the literature to this problem. The new algorithm has the advantage of being simple, using only comparisons (and no floating-point computations), and of being suitable for an extension to higher dimensions. Our experiments consider both real data and artificial test data. We evaluate the difference in the results produced on the same terrain data, as well as the impact of resolution level on such a difference, by considering representations of the same terrain at different resolutions.

Publication
Computer Vision and Computer Graphics. Theory and Applications