AAG 2013: http://www.aag.org/annualmeeting
http://meridian.aag.org/callforpapers/program/AbstractDetail.cfm?AbstractID=55122

Classification of Bathymetry Grids using Open Source Tools

Kurt Schwehr, Jamie Adams, Jenifer Austin Foulkes
Google Oceans Team
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA. 94043
{schwehr,adams,jaustin}@google.com

Creating global synthesis views of the Earth’s bathymetry is a
challenge complicated the process of merging data products from
diverse sensor platforms with a wide range of data artifact classes.
Processing large numbers of gridded bathymetry DEMs requires being
able to automatically classify the input DEMs based on the surveying
and gridding techniques used and the resulting artifacts.  The
platform type and details of techniques used are not detailed in a
machine readable form within the ISO XML metadata contained in
Bathymetry Attributed Grids (BAGs).  We demonstrate the results of
processed NOAA NGDC’s archive of BAGs using Open Source tools to
identify the quantity and morphology of data gaps using the Python
SciPy library’s image processing routines.  Once grids have been
classified and referenced to the same vertical datum using the
Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL), the grids can be hole
filled and merged based on project specific requirements.  We will
discuss the general classes of artifacts that can be found and propose
how each class might be handled to produce a more continuous surface.
We show how to use IPython Notebooks and QGIS to assist with quality
checking BAGs insure the archived grids represent the quality of the
sensor platform and acquisition strategy.  We will conclude with
suggested strategies for data acquisition and gridding that are more
likely to produce DEMs that blend well with large global scale
projects such as Google Ocean.

Call:

Title: Advances and Challenges in Digital Elevation Models

Description: Digital elevation models (DEMs) are a fundamental base
layer for many applications, such as hydrologic and storm surge
modeling , tsunami and sea-level rise modeling, ecosystems management
and habitat research, coastal and marine spatial planning,
sediment-transport analysis, and hazard mitigation and community
preparedness. We invite papers/illustrated papers on recent advances
in DEMs, including new techniques for building or evaluating DEMs, and
in challenges that DEMs pose to applications that require them. How
can DEMs be improved to support better planning or research? What are
the limitations of DEMs in how they are used? How does DEM uncertainty
or inaccuracy impact results derived from their use?

Organizers: Barry W. Eakins (NOAA) and Jeffrey J. Danielson (USGS) 

Chair:  John C. Brock (USGS) 

Sponsorships: 
Coastal and Marine Specialty Group 
Geomorphology Specialty Group 
Spatial Analysis and Modeling Specialty Group