Dual aspects of a multi-resolution grid-based terrain data model with supplementary irregular data points

Abstract

Digital terrain data models in high resolution are required in applications for visualization but also, e.g. for identification of various types of terrain features. These two aspects are in a way contradictory since the former application require a large number of data points to represent the high resolution, while the latter cannot deal with such a large number of data points without high demands for heavy computational powers. A solution to this problem is a structure that includes quantitative characteristics for visualization and a qualitative representation for feature analysis. A digital terrain data model characterized with these dual aspects has been designed and will be presented in this work.

Context fusion for driveability analysis

“…A tile is compared with every representative and are substituted by the corresponding string. The tiles can be stored in a database in accordance to a relatively simple structure [1], [18] from which data can be efficiently accessed.…”

“…This type of analysis is needed for the judgement of possible movements of targets (target tracking) and for the planning of future movements. An important data source for such an analysis is a digital terrain model [1], [2], which in this case is a high resolution digital terrain model generated from laser radar. In [2] is a method for finding essential terrain objects such as ditches and ridges described.…”