Risk Assessment Based on Mathematical Morphology of Landscape Models (Case Study of Thermokarst Plains)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The paper presents a new approach for risk assessment of impact of thermokarst processes on engineering structures; it is based on the methods of mathematical morphology of landscape. The paper presents the results of the investigation of irregular (non-circular shape) thermokarst lakes. Remote sensing images of reference plots with thermokarst lakes were digitized; then, theoretical assumptions were applied and the simulation results were compared with empirical data to prove convergence. The analysis of the obtained results showed general agreement of empirical and theoretical data KEY WORDS: risk assessment, remote sensing, landscape pattern analysis, mathematical morphology of landscape