Accuracy of interpolation techniques for the derivation of digital elevation models in relation to landform types and data density

摘要: One of the most important scientific challenges digital elevation modeling is development numerical representations large areas with a high resolution. Although there have been many studies on accuracy interpolation techniques for generation models (DEMs) in relation to landform types and data quantity or density, still need evaluate performance these natural landscapes differing morphologies over range scales. To perform such an evaluation, we investigated total six sites, three mountainous region northern Laos more gentle landscape western France, various surface from micro-plots, hillslopes, catchments. The used point height density values 4 109 points/km2 include: inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), universal (UK), multiquadratic radial basis function (MRBF), regularized spline tension (RST). study sites exhibited coefficients variation (CV) altitude between 12% 78%, isotropic anisotropic spatial structures strengths weak (with nugget/sill ratio 0.8) strong (0.01). Irrespective scales variability structure altitude, few differences existed methods if sampling was high, although MRBF performed slightly better. However, at lower densities, yielded best estimations structure, low CV anisotropy, while RST structure. Under conditions CV, IDW better than other method. prediction errors estimation are discussed possible interactions scale, types, density. These results indicate that DEM should be tested not only but also their applicability multi-scales.