physically-based method for removing pits in digital elevation models

• Published in: Advances in water resources Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 2151 - 2158
• Main Authors: Grimaldi, S, Nardi, F, Di Benedetto, F, Istanbulluoglu, E, Bras, R.L
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Science 01.10.2007
• Subjects: digital elevation models; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; geographic information systems; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; infiltration (hydrology); landscape evolution models; landscapes; slope; water flow; watershed hydrology; New Mexico; Italy; landscapes; models; software; Geographical Information Systems; topography; geographic information systems; drainage patterns; slopes; Depressions in DEMs; DEM; lead; Errors in DEMs; GIS; depressions; water resources; Pit filling; Sinks in DEMs; information systems; Landscape evolution models; errors; Digital elevation models; Drainage networks; direction
• ISSN: 0309-1708; 1872-9657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2006.11.016

Spurious pits in digital elevation models (DEMs) are traditionally removed by filling depressions, often creating flat regions that lead to inaccurate estimation of landscape flow directions. In this study, a physical approach based on a simple landscape evolution model is proposed for DEM pit removal. This method, an alternative to traditional geometrical procedures, enforces more realistic slopes and flow directions on topography. The procedure is compared with the method most commonly used in the literature and distributed with commercial GIS software where, generally, elevations of a depression are increased up to the lowest value among neighbouring cells. Several tests are performed and parameters sensitivity is carried out in order to demonstrate the performance of the proposed model as compared to traditional methods.