Articles | Volume 7, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-475-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-475-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 May 2019
Research article |
| 29 May 2019
| 29 May 2019
Determining the optimal grid resolution for topographic analysis on an airborne lidar dataset
Institute of Geosciences, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Aljoscha Rheinwalt
Institute of Geosciences, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Bodo Bookhagen
Institute of Geosciences, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Evaluation of high‐resolution DEMs from satellite imagery for geomorphic applications: A case study using the SETSM algorithm A. Atwood & A. West 10.1002/esp.5263
- Plant height measurement using UAV-based aerial RGB and LiDAR images in soybean L. Pun Magar et al. 10.3389/fpls.2025.1488760
- On the effects of spatial resolution on effective distance measurement in digital landscapes R. Murekatete & T. Shirabe 10.1186/s13717-021-00296-3
- Automated detection of austere entry landing zones: A “GRAIL Tools” validation assessment S. Sinclair & S. Shoop 10.1111/tgis.12584
- Landslide Analysis with Incomplete Data: A Framework for Critical Parameter Estimation L. Guido & P. Santi 10.3390/geotechnics4030047
- Uncertainty Analysis of Digital Elevation Models by Spatial Inference From Stable Terrain R. Hugonnet et al. 10.1109/JSTARS.2022.3188922
- Identification of Debris‐Flow Channels Using High‐Resolution Topographic Data: A Case Study in the Quebrada del Toro, NW Argentina A. Mueting et al. 10.1029/2021JF006330
- Effects of high-quality elevation data and explanatory variables on the accuracy of flood inundation mapping via Height Above Nearest Drainage F. Aristizabal et al. 10.5194/hess-28-1287-2024
- Statewide USGS 3DEP Lidar Topographic Differencing Applied to Indiana, USA C. Scott et al. 10.3390/rs14040847
- Quantifying the mixed uncertainty for calculating slope from a gridded digital elevation model J. Zhang et al. 10.1080/10106049.2025.2480307
- Image Texture as Quality Indicator for Optical DEM Generation: Geomorphic Applications in the Arid Central Andes B. Purinton et al. 10.3390/rs15010085
- Climatic and Biotic Controls on Topographic Asymmetry at the Global Scale T. Smith & B. Bookhagen 10.1029/2020JF005692
- Towards automatic delineation of landslide source and runout K. Bhuyan et al. 10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107866
- Coupled effect of orography and rainfall on canopy heights in the Western Ghats and Meghalaya Plateau of India S. Paul et al. 10.1016/j.pce.2025.104003
- Beyond Vertical Point Accuracy: Assessing Inter-pixel Consistency in 30 m Global DEMs for the Arid Central Andes B. Purinton & B. Bookhagen 10.3389/feart.2021.758606
- Measuring change at Earth’s surface: On-demand vertical and three-dimensional topographic differencing implemented in OpenTopography C. Scott et al. 10.1130/GES02259.1
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Evaluation of high‐resolution DEMs from satellite imagery for geomorphic applications: A case study using the SETSM algorithm A. Atwood & A. West 10.1002/esp.5263
- Plant height measurement using UAV-based aerial RGB and LiDAR images in soybean L. Pun Magar et al. 10.3389/fpls.2025.1488760
- On the effects of spatial resolution on effective distance measurement in digital landscapes R. Murekatete & T. Shirabe 10.1186/s13717-021-00296-3
- Automated detection of austere entry landing zones: A “GRAIL Tools” validation assessment S. Sinclair & S. Shoop 10.1111/tgis.12584
- Landslide Analysis with Incomplete Data: A Framework for Critical Parameter Estimation L. Guido & P. Santi 10.3390/geotechnics4030047
- Uncertainty Analysis of Digital Elevation Models by Spatial Inference From Stable Terrain R. Hugonnet et al. 10.1109/JSTARS.2022.3188922
- Identification of Debris‐Flow Channels Using High‐Resolution Topographic Data: A Case Study in the Quebrada del Toro, NW Argentina A. Mueting et al. 10.1029/2021JF006330
- Effects of high-quality elevation data and explanatory variables on the accuracy of flood inundation mapping via Height Above Nearest Drainage F. Aristizabal et al. 10.5194/hess-28-1287-2024
- Statewide USGS 3DEP Lidar Topographic Differencing Applied to Indiana, USA C. Scott et al. 10.3390/rs14040847
- Quantifying the mixed uncertainty for calculating slope from a gridded digital elevation model J. Zhang et al. 10.1080/10106049.2025.2480307
- Image Texture as Quality Indicator for Optical DEM Generation: Geomorphic Applications in the Arid Central Andes B. Purinton et al. 10.3390/rs15010085
- Climatic and Biotic Controls on Topographic Asymmetry at the Global Scale T. Smith & B. Bookhagen 10.1029/2020JF005692
- Towards automatic delineation of landslide source and runout K. Bhuyan et al. 10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107866
- Coupled effect of orography and rainfall on canopy heights in the Western Ghats and Meghalaya Plateau of India S. Paul et al. 10.1016/j.pce.2025.104003
- Beyond Vertical Point Accuracy: Assessing Inter-pixel Consistency in 30 m Global DEMs for the Arid Central Andes B. Purinton & B. Bookhagen 10.3389/feart.2021.758606
- Measuring change at Earth’s surface: On-demand vertical and three-dimensional topographic differencing implemented in OpenTopography C. Scott et al. 10.1130/GES02259.1
Latest update: 23 Jul 2025
Short summary
Representing the surface of the Earth on an equally spaced grid leads to errors and uncertainties in derived slope and aspect. Using synthetic data, we develop a quality metric that can be used to compare the uncertainties in different datasets. We then apply this method to a real-world lidar dataset, and find that 1 m data have larger error bounds than lower-resolution data. The highest data resolution is not always the best choice – it is important to consider the quality of the data.
Representing the surface of the Earth on an equally spaced grid leads to errors and...
