The Influence of the Quality of Digital Elevation Data on the Modelling of Terrain Vehicle Movement

Abstract

This study investigated digital terrain models and options for their evaluation and effective usage. The most important result of this study was the introduction of the slope reduction method for low-detail elevation models. It enabled accurate results of passability analyses by performing adjustments of slopes. In addition, the goal was to determine the strengths and weaknesses of selected data for use in cross-country mobility analyses, followed by recommendations on how to use these databases efficiently to obtain accurate results. The selection of elevation databases (1 m, 5 m, 10 m, 30 m) was determined by the focus of data development projects of NATO and current scientific research projects of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. Key findings showed potential for use in practise for all tested elevation models. Efficient usage of low-detail models in CCM analyses is limited; nevertheless, they can be augmented with additional vector data or automated remote-sensing technologies.