Heterogeneity can be dealt with by defining homogeneous equivalent properties, known as averaging, or by trying to describe the spatial variability of the rock properties from geologic observations and local measurements. The techniques available for these descriptions are mostly continuous Geostatistical models, or discontinuous facies models such as the Boolean, Indicator or Gaussian-Threshold models and the Markov chain model. These facies models are better suited to treating issues of rock strata connectivity, e.g. buried high permeability channels or low permeability barriers, which greatly affect flow and, above all, transport in aquifers. Genetic models provide new ways to incorporate more geology into the facies description, an approach that has been well developed in the oil industry, but not enough in hydrogeology. The conclusion is that future work should be focused on improving the facies models, comparing them, and designing new in situ testing procedures (including geophysics) that would help identify the facies geometry and properties. A world-wide catalog of aquifer facies geometry and properties, which could combine site genesis and description with methods used to assess the system, would be of great value for practical applications.RØsumØ On peut aborder le problme de l'hØtØrogØnØitØ en s'efforçant de dØfinir une permØabilitØ Øquivalente homogne, par prise de moyenne, ou au contraire en dØ-crivant la variation dans l'espace des propriØtØs des roches à partir des observations gØologiques et des mesures locales. Les techniques disponibles pour une telle description sont soit continues, comme l'approche GØosta-tistique, soit discontinues, comme les modles de facis, BoolØens, ou bien par Indicatrices ou Gaussiennes SeuillØes, ou enfin Markoviens. Ces modles de facis sont mieux capables de prendre en compte la connectivitØ des strates gØologiques, telles que les chenaux enfouis à forte permØabilitØ, ou au contraire les facis fins de barrires de permØabilitØ, qui ont une influence importante sur les Øcoulement, et, plus encore, sur le transport. Les modles gØnØtiques rØcemment apparus ont la capacitØ de mieux incorporer dans les modles de facis les observations gØologiques, chose courante dans l'industrie pØ-trolire, mais insuffisamment dØveloppØe en hydrogØo-logie. On conclut que les travaux de recherche ultØrieurs devraient s'attacher à dØvelopper les modles de facis, à les comparer entre eux, et à mettre au point de nouvelles mØthodes d'essais in situ, comprenant les mØthodes gØo-physiques, capables de reconnaître la gØomØtrie et les propriØtØs des facis. La constitution d'un catalogue mondial de la gØomØtrie et des propriØtØs des facis aquifres, ainsi que des mØthodes de reconnaissance utilisØes pour arriver à la dØtermination de ces systmes, serait d'une grande importance pratique pour les applications.Resumen La heterogeneidad se puede manejar por medio de la definición de características homogØneas equivalentes, conocidas como promediar o tratando de describir la variabilidad espacia...

1] The first near-global high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) of the Earth has recently been released following the successful Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) of 2000. This data set will have applications in a wide range of fields and will be especially valuable in the Earth sciences. Prior to widespread dissemination and use, it is important to acquire knowledge regarding the accuracy characteristics. In this work a comprehensive analysis of the vertical errors present in the data set and the assessment of their effects on different hydrogeomorphic products is performed. In particular, the work consisted of (1) measuring the vertical accuracy of the data set in two areas with different topographic characteristics; (2) characterizing the error structure by comparing elevation residuals with terrain attributes; (3) assessing a wavelet-based filter for removing speckle; and (4) assessing the effects of vertical errors on hydrogeomorphic products and on slope stability modeling. The results indicate that in the two sites, relief has a strong effect on the vertical accuracy of the SRTM DEM. In the high-relief terrain, large errors and data voids are frequent, and their location is strongly influenced by topography, while in the low-to medium-relief site, errors are smaller, although the hilly terrain still produces an effect on the sign of the errors. Speckling generates deviations in the drainage network in one of the investigated areas, but the application of a wavelet filter proved to be an effective tool for removing vertical noise, although further fine tuning is necessary. Vertical errors cause differences in automatically extracted hydrogeomorphic products that range between 4 and 1090.Citation: Falorni, G., V. Teles, E. R. Vivoni, R. L. Bras, and K. S. Amaratunga (2005), Analysis and characterization of the vertical accuracy of digital elevation models from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission,

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