Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces
This paper proposes the use of check surfaces or ‘patches’ for the assessment of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) elevations and derived variables (e.g. slope and aspect). We work with grid-type DEMs, and the patches are implemented through square windows of different sizes. Since the data included in...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Annals of GIS |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475683.2025.2452258 |
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| author | Francisco Javier Ariza-López José Rodríguez-Avi |
| author_facet | Francisco Javier Ariza-López José Rodríguez-Avi |
| author_sort | Francisco Javier Ariza-López |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper proposes the use of check surfaces or ‘patches’ for the assessment of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) elevations and derived variables (e.g. slope and aspect). We work with grid-type DEMs, and the patches are implemented through square windows of different sizes. Since the data included in a patch are autocorrelated, a trial is performed under controlled conditions of simulation, and then the same simulation method is applied to a DEM data set. Using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic, the observed distribution functions of the results for different sample sizes (20, 50, 100) and different patch sizes (3 × 3, 5 × 5, 9 × 9, 11 × 11, 15 × 15, 19 × 19) and for a sample of points are compared against the true population distribution function. The trial based on autocorrelated synthetic data created following a geostatistical model (exponential law) outputs a clear result regarding the influence of intra-patch autocorrelation. The lower this autocorrelation is, the better the patch performs in terms of sampling efficiency. The same simulation process applied to synthetic data has also been applied to the case of a DEM product. The results obtained allow us to establish an equivalence between sample size when using control patches and control points. The main result of this study is that it allows us to understand the behaviour of samples based on patches and offers us a guide for determining the size of patch-based samples. The most relevant contribution of this proposal is that it opens the possibility of analysing variables derived from elevation data, such as slope and aspect. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4e2ee57c9a0432fabe5edccab0ce449 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1947-5683 1947-5691 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of GIS |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4e2ee57c9a0432fabe5edccab0ce4492025-08-20T03:22:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of GIS1947-56831947-56912025-01-013119110610.1080/19475683.2025.2452258Quality control of DEMs using check surfacesFrancisco Javier Ariza-López0José Rodríguez-Avi1Departamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica, Geodésica y Fotogrametría, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, SpainDepartamento de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, SpainThis paper proposes the use of check surfaces or ‘patches’ for the assessment of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) elevations and derived variables (e.g. slope and aspect). We work with grid-type DEMs, and the patches are implemented through square windows of different sizes. Since the data included in a patch are autocorrelated, a trial is performed under controlled conditions of simulation, and then the same simulation method is applied to a DEM data set. Using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic, the observed distribution functions of the results for different sample sizes (20, 50, 100) and different patch sizes (3 × 3, 5 × 5, 9 × 9, 11 × 11, 15 × 15, 19 × 19) and for a sample of points are compared against the true population distribution function. The trial based on autocorrelated synthetic data created following a geostatistical model (exponential law) outputs a clear result regarding the influence of intra-patch autocorrelation. The lower this autocorrelation is, the better the patch performs in terms of sampling efficiency. The same simulation process applied to synthetic data has also been applied to the case of a DEM product. The results obtained allow us to establish an equivalence between sample size when using control patches and control points. The main result of this study is that it allows us to understand the behaviour of samples based on patches and offers us a guide for determining the size of patch-based samples. The most relevant contribution of this proposal is that it opens the possibility of analysing variables derived from elevation data, such as slope and aspect.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475683.2025.2452258Digital elevation modelspatchesKolmogorov-Smirnov statisticquality control |
| spellingShingle | Francisco Javier Ariza-López José Rodríguez-Avi Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces Annals of GIS Digital elevation models patches Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic quality control |
| title | Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces |
| title_full | Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces |
| title_fullStr | Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces |
| title_short | Quality control of DEMs using check surfaces |
| title_sort | quality control of dems using check surfaces |
| topic | Digital elevation models patches Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic quality control |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475683.2025.2452258 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT franciscojavierarizalopez qualitycontrolofdemsusingchecksurfaces AT joserodriguezavi qualitycontrolofdemsusingchecksurfaces |