DEM Development from Ground-Based LiDAR Data: A Method to Remove Non-Surface Objects
Open Access
- 23 November 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Remote Sensing
- Vol. 2 (11), 2629-2642
- https://doi.org/10.3390/rs2112629
Abstract
Topography and land cover characteristics can have significant effects on infiltration, runoff, and erosion processes on watersheds. The ability to model the timing and routing of surface water and erosion is affected by the resolution of the digital elevation model (DEM). High resolution ground-based Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can be used to collect detailed topographic and land cover characteristic data. In this study, a method was developed to remove vegetation from ground-based LiDAR data to create high resolution DEMs. Research was conducted on intensively studied rainfall–runoff plots on the USDA-ARS Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in Southeast Arizona. LiDAR data were used to generate 1 cm resolution digital surface models (DSM) for 5 plots. DSMs created directly from LiDAR data contain non-surface objects such as vegetation cover. A vegetation removal method was developed which used a slope threshold and a focal mean filter method to remove vegetation and create bare earth DEMs. The method was validated on a synthetic plot, where rocks and vegetation were added incrementally. Results of the validation showed a vertical error of ±7.5 mm in the final DEM.This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment toolEnvironmental Modelling & Software, 2007
- An Evaluation of Lidar-derived Elevation and Terrain Slope in Leaf-off ConditionsPhotogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 2005
- LIDAR Data Filtering and DTM Interpolation Within GRASSTransactions in GIS, 2004
- LiDAR remote sensing of forest structureProgress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 2003
- A STRIP MODEL APPROACH TO PARAMETERIZE A COUPLED GREEN-AMPT KINEMATIC WAVE MODEL1Jawra Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2002
- EVALUATION OF LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING (LIDAR) FOR MEASURING RIVER CORRIDOR TOPOGRAPHY1Jawra Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2002
- Digitally processed satellite data as a tool in detecting potential groundwater flow systemsJournal of Hydrology, 1992