Digital Terrain Analysis in Soil Science and Geology provides GIS scientists, soil scientists, geologists, geoscientists, geomorphologists, and geographers with an integrated view of the theory, principles, and methods of digital terrain modeling in the context of multi-scale problems of soil science and geology.

Digital Terrain Analysis in Soil Science and Geology, based on the author's original interdisciplinary research, is divided into three parts. The first part represents the state-of-the-art in the field outlining mathematical methods used in digital terrain modeling. The second part looks at methods for analysis, modeling, and mapping of spatial distribution of soil properties using digital terrain analysis. The third part considers techniques for recognition, analysis, and interpretation of topographically expressed geological features.

From the Author :
This book is the first attempt to synthesize knowledge on theory, methods, and applications of digital terrain analysis in the context of multiscale problems of soil science and geology. The content of the book is based on long-standing, interdisciplinary research of the author.

The book is divided into three parts. Part I represents main concepts, principles, and methods of digital terrain modeling. In Chapter 1, there is a brief historical overview of the progress of geomorphometry and digital terrain analysis in the context of soil and geological studies. Chapter 2 discusses the basic notions of digital terrain modeling: the concept of the topographic surface; five main groups of morphometric variables (local, non-local, solar, and combined attributes, and structural lines); and key landform classifications. Chapter 3 concerns techniques to produce digital elevation models (DEMs), main types of DEM grids, issues of DEM resolution including the sampling theorem and its sequences, as well as interpolation approaches. Chapter 4 deals with calculation of morphometric variables on plane and spheroidal regular grids. Chapter 5 investigates the problem of errors and accuracy of digital terrain models (DTMs). Chapter 6 considers DTM decomposition, denoising, and generalization. Chapter 7 examines peculiarities of DTM visualization.

Part II discusses various aspects of the use of digital terrain analysis in soil science. Chapter 8 probes into the main regularities in the influence of topography on spatial distribution of soil properties. Chapter 9 concerns determination of the adequate grid spacing for DTM-based soil studies. Chapter 10 looks at predictive soil mapping, a growing branch of soil science. Chapter 11 presents two case studies on DTM-based analysis of relationships between topography and soil.

Part III looks at applications of digital terrain modeling in geology. Chapter 12 probes into applications of data on curvatures of the land and stratigraphic surfaces in research of folds and folding processes. Chapter 13 concerns revealing and classification of topographically expressed lineaments and faults. Chapter 14 looks at relationships between zones of flow accumulation and natural phenomena a priori associated with fault intersections. Chapter 15 examines a hypothesis on tectonically and topographically expressed, global helical structures using spheroidal digital terrain modeling of the Earth, Mars, Venus, and the Moon.

Chapter 16 concludes the book summarizing its main themes. Appendix A, written by Peter Shary, presents a mathematical proof for the formulae used in this book. Appendix B briefly describes the software LandLord intended for digital terrain analysis.

The book is addressed to geomorphometrists, soil scientists, geologists, geoscientists, geomorphologists, geographers, and GIS scientists (at scholar, lecturer, and postgraduate student levels, with mathematical skills). This book is also intended for the GIS professionals in industry and research laboratories focusing on geoscientific and soil research.

From the Back Cover :
Digital Terrain Analysis in Soil Science and Geology offers an integrated and mathematically-sound source for digital terrain modeling - its theory, methods, and applications in the context of multiscale problems of soil science and geology.

Divided into three parts - Principles and Methods of Digital Terrain Modeling, Digital Terrain Modeling in Soil Science, and Digital Terrain Modeling in Geology - this book features:

~ An integrated, first-hand view of digital terrain analysis by an expert scholar in the field.
~ Rigorous mathematical theory providing the correct framework for digital terrain modeling.
~ Soil and geological examples at a wide range of spatial scales.