A METHOD FOR THE PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL TERRAIN ELEVATION DATA - Report 177 - January 1979

Sep 10, 2026

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NASA/ERL report describes a method for processing and analyzing digital terrain elevation data derived from cartographic sources and remote sensing. The workflow enables conversion of raw digitized coordinate points into a usable interactive database representation, capturing slope, slope length, elevation, and aspect angle. It details the required data processing software programs, mathematical derivations for UTM registration, and scale-factor considerations. Example results are demonstrated using Shiprock and Gallup quadrangle test data, with supporting tables and figures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages87

Reading Time3 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Introduction

Digital Terrain Elevation Data

Data Processing Software Development

General Program Functions

Specific Program Descriptions

Mathematical Analysis

UTM Coordinate Equations

Derivation of Equations for Data Registration

Scale Factor Equations

Slope, Slope Length, and Aspect Determination

Results

Shiprock and Gallup Quad Data

Concluding Remarks

References

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

N OTICE THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED FROMMICROFICHE.ALTHOUGH IT IS RECOGNIZED THATCERTAIN PORTIONS ARE ILLEGIBLE,IT IS BEING RELEASEDIN THE INTEREST OF MAKING AVAILABLE AS MUCHINFORMATION AS POSSIBLE NASA 8.1-10.0.30 m-9187 of eeriy ad内dis t pf3h Resourc3$、vey bn 2ad ho7t ity e cnder SA spoorship National Aeronautics and Space Administration 0t." EARTH RESOURCES LABORATORY A METHOD FOR THE PROCESSINGAND ANALYSIS OF DIGITALTERRAIN ELEVATION DATA JANUARY 1979 REPORT NO.177 (E81-10030)A METHOD FOR THE PROCESSING ANDANALYSIs OF DIGITAL TSRRAIN ELEVATION DATA(NASA) 85 p HC A05/MF A01CSCL 05B N81-12512 Unclas G3/43 00030 LIBRARY COPY JAN311979 LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTERLIBRARY,NASAHAMPTON,VIRGINIA A METHOD FOR THE PROCESSING AND ANALYSISQF DIGITAL TERRAIN ELEVATION DATA by Bobby G.Junkin 彩蒙 06LOR 减TI0S Report No.177 January 1979 ACKNOWLEIGEMENTS Acknowledgement is made to Mrs.Jo Anne Forbes andMr.Gil Kerley of the Programming Group of the LockheedElectronics Company,Inc.,for their programming supportin the implenientation of the procedures presented in thispaper. The NASA/ERL Land Applications Group also suppliedthe data tapes for the application examples shown herein.Acknowledgement is also made to Mrs.Helen Paul for typingthe manuscript. w A METHOD FOR THE PROCESSING AND ANALYSISOF DIGITAL TERRAIN ELEVATION DATA By Bobby G.Junkin* SUMMARY This report presents a method for the processing andanalysis of、digital topography data that can subsequentlybe entered in an interactive data base iri the form of slope,slope length,elevation and aspect angle. Included are adiscussion of the data source and specific descriptions ofthe data processing software programs. In addition,themathematical considerations involved in the registration ofraw digitized coordinate points to the UTM coordinate systemare presented. Scale factor considerations are also included.Results of the processing and analysis are illustrated usingthe Shiprock and Gallup Quadrangle test data. *Earth Resources Laboratory,NASA/NSTL,Slidel1,Louisiana 70458 CONTENTS Page Section SUMMARY. . . . . . .. . . . ………………………………………………………………iii INTRODUCTION ... ... ... ………………………………………………………………1 DIGITAL TERRAIN ELEVATION DATA ………………………………………………………………1 DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT …………………………………………3 General Program Functions ………………………………………………………………………3 Specific Program Descriptions ………………………………………………………………3 MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS. . . . . . ……………………………………………………5 UTM Coordinste Equations …………………………………………………………………………… Derivation of Equations for Data Registration …………………7 Scale Factor Equations …………………………………………………………………………………16 Slope, Slope Length, and Aspect Determination . …………16 RESULTS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Shiprock and Gallup Quad Data ………………………………………………………………19 CONCLUDING REMARKS.... . . . ………………………………………………23 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………:26 APPENDIX A NASA/ERL DIGITAL TERRAIN TOPOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS. . . .A-1 APPENDIX B PROGRAM FLOW CHARTS . . . . . . .. ………………………………B-1 APPENDIX C C-1 PROGRAM LISTINGS APPENDIX D GENERAL INFORMATION CONCERNING DATA COURCE D-1 r 一…ii Table I II III TABLES Page INPUT DATA FOR EXAMPLE SHOWN IN FIGURE 10 . . ……………………………………………………………………………22 COMPARISON OF ELEVATION VALUES FROM MA? AND TOPO PROGRAM . …………………………………………24 UTM DIFFERENCES FOR KNOWN POSITIONS . . . 24 Figure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 FIGURES Page Example of USGS 1:250,000-Scale Map…………………6 East of Zone CM. ... .. ……………………………………8 West of Zone CM ……………………………………………………………………………9 East of Zone CM,Right Side of Quad …………………11 East of Zone CM,Left Side of Quad …………………13 West of Zone CM,Right Side of Quad……………14 West of Zone CM,Left Side of Quad ………………15 Neighborhood Cell Approach ………………………………………17 Shiprock and Gallup Quad Data, RCC 135 .. 20 Example

FAQs

What outputs does the processing method generate from digital terrain elevation data?

The method prepares data for entry into an interactive database in the form of slope, slope length, elevation, and aspect angle.

How does the report handle registration of raw digitized coordinates?

It presents mathematical considerations for registering raw digitized coordinate points to the UTM coordinate system and derives the needed equations.

What example datasets are used to illustrate processing and analysis results?

Results are illustrated using Shiprock and Gallup quadrangle test data.

Sep 10, 2026

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