scholarly journals Morphological characteristics and distribution of dolines in Slovenia, a study of a lidar-based doline map of Slovenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrej Mihevc ◽  
Rok Mihevc

Dolines are small to intermediate enclosed depressions and are the most numerous karst feature in Slovenia. They are circular in plan form and vary in diameter from a few metres to over a kilometre. They are developed in limestone, dolomite, carbonate breccia and conglomerate and occupy different geomorphic settings. They were formed by various processes like dissolution, collapse, suffosion and transformation of caves to surface features by denudation. Publicly accessible lidar data, provided by a nationwide laser scanning project of Slovenia, was used for this study. To catalogue the dolines, we manually label a fraction of the digital elevation model (DEM) with a binary mask indicating if the area is a doline or not. We then train a slightly modified u-net, a type of machine learning algorithm, on the labelled territory. Using the trained algorithm, we infer the binary mask on the entire DEM. We convert the resulting mask into an ESRI Shapefile and manually verify the results. We note that the training and inference are error prone on types of relief that were less common in the training set (e.g., the relatively uncommon collapse dolines). We believe manual verification mitigates most of these errors, so the resulting map is a good basis for the doline study. We have made our georeferenced catalogue of dolines available at https://dolines.org/ (Mihevc & Mihevc 2021). Dolines are found in most of the karst areas, except mountains where they were eroded by glacial action or covered by glacial deposits. We detected 471,192 dolines and divided them into three genetic types. Most abundant are solution dolines (470,325). The average doline is 9 m deep, has a diameter of 42 m and a volume of 14,098 m3. The density of dolines on levelled surfaces can be as high as 500/ per km2. They are absent from the floors of poljes and steeper slopes, and are less abundant on sloping surfaces. We have identified 314 dolines to be of collapse origin. The mean depth of collapse dolines is 49 m, and 20 of them are deeper than 100 m. The mean volume is 1.2 million m3, with the largest having a volume of 11.6 million m3. Most of the collapse dolines can be found close to ponors or springs or corridors where large underground rivers flow. We have detected 553 suffosion dolines formed by suffosion of sediments in blind valleys or on poljes. This basic data set for dolines enables further study and comparison of dolines with the geology and topography of the karst.

Polar Record ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Pasik ◽  
Maria Elżbieta Kowalska ◽  
Sławomir Łapiński ◽  
Marcin Rajner ◽  
Krzysztof Bakuła

ABSTRACTThis paper presents survey measurements carried out during the 39th Polish Antarctic Expedition to the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station in March 2015. The measurements were used to create a map on a 1:500 scale and for 3D modelling of the station buildings and vicinity. The paper also presents the geodetic control network established around the station. We discuss the issue of creating a digital elevation model for the station and its surroundings. The elevation models were generated using terrestrial laser scanning data integrated with Global Navigation Satellite System real time kinematic and tacheometric surveying. The accuracy of these models was estimated using height differences in relation to survey data. The mean height difference was 0.03 m and root mean square error was 0.05 m. Furthermore, an analysis of changes to the coastline was conducted using archival cartographic materials to assess the threat of Admiralty Bay to the station buildings. The results are important for continued scientific activity and safety at Arctowski Station, and may be useful for future research on King George Island.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang

Precise computation of the direct and indirect topographic effects of Helmert's 2nd method of condensation using SRTM30 digital elevation modelThe direct topographic effect (DTE) and indirect topographic effect (ITE) of Helmert's 2nd method of condensation are computed using the digital elevation model (DEM) SRTM30 in 30 arc-seconds globally. The computations assume a constant density of the topographic masses. Closed formulas are used in the inner zone of half degree, and Nagy's formulas are used in the innermost column to treat the singularity of integrals. To speed up the computations, 1-dimensional fast Fourier transform (1D FFT) is applied in outer zone computations. The computation accuracy is limited to 0.1 mGal and 0.1cm for the direct and indirect effect, respectively.The mean value and standard deviation of the DTE are -0.8 and ±7.6 mGal over land areas. The extreme value -274.3 mGal is located at latitude -13.579° and longitude 289.496°, at the height of 1426 meter in the Andes Mountains. The ITE is negative everywhere and has its minimum of -235.9 cm at the peak of Himalayas (8685 meter). The standard deviation and mean value over land areas are ±15.6 cm and -6.4 cm, respectively. Because the Stokes kernel does not contain the zero and first degree spherical harmonics, the mean value of the ITE can't be compensated through the remove-restore procedure under the Stokes-Helmert scheme, and careful treatment of the mean value in the ITE is required.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Gallay ◽  
Zdenko Hochmuth ◽  
Ján Kaňuk ◽  
Jaroslav Hofierka

Abstract. The change of hydrological conditions during the evolution of caves in carbonate rocks often results in a complex subterranean geomorphology which comprises specific landforms such as ceiling channels, anastomosing half tubes, or speleothems organised vertically in different levels. Studying such complex environments traditionally requires tedious mapping, however, this is being replaced with terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning overcomes the problem of reaching high ceilings providing new options to map underground landscapes with unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. The acquired point cloud can be handled conveniently with dedicated software, but applying traditional geomorphometry to analyse the cave surface is limited. This is because geomorphometry has been focused on parameterisation and analysis of surficial terrain. The theoretical and methodological concept has been based on two-dimensional scalar fields which is sufficient for most cases of the surficial terrain. The terrain surface is modelled with a bivariate function of altitude (elevation) and represented by a raster digital elevation model. However, the cave is a three-dimensional entity therefore a different approach is required for geomorphometric analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of high resolution cave mapping and 3-D modelling to better understand the palaeohydrography of the Domica cave in Slovakia. This methodological approach adopted traditional geomorphometric methods in a unique manner and also new methods used in 3D computer graphics which can be applied to study other 3-D geomorphological forms


Author(s):  
M. Hubacek ◽  
V. Kovarik ◽  
V. Kratochvil

Digital elevation models are today a common part of geographic information systems and derived applications. The way of their creation is varied. It depends on the extent of area, required accuracy, delivery time, financial resources and technologies available. The first model covering the whole territory of the Czech Republic was created already in the early 1980's. Currently, the 5th DEM generation is being finished. Data collection for this model was realized using the airborne laser scanning which allowed creating the DEM of a new generation having the precision up to a decimetre. Model of such a precision expands the possibilities of employing the DEM and it also offers new opportunities for the use of elevation data especially in a domain of modelling the phenomena dependent on highly accurate data. The examples are precise modelling of hydrological phenomena, studying micro-relief objects, modelling the vehicle movement, detecting and describing historical changes of a landscape, designing constructions etc. <br><br> Due to a nature of the technology used for collecting data and generating DEM, it is assumed that the resulting model achieves lower accuracy in areas covered by vegetation and in built-up areas. Therefore the verification of model accuracy was carried out in five selected areas in Moravia. The network of check points was established using a total station in each area. To determine the reference heights of check points, the known geodetic points whose heights were defined using levelling were used. Up to several thousands of points were surveyed in each area. Individual points were selected according to a different configuration of relief, different surface types, and different vegetation coverage. The sets of deviations were obtained by comparing the DEM 5G heights with reference heights which was followed by verification of tested elevation model. Results of the analysis showed that the model reaches generally higher precision than the declared one in majority of areas. This applies in particular to areas covered by vegetation. By contrast, the larger deviations occurred in relation to the slope of the terrain, in particular in the micro-relief objects. The results are presented in this article.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1827-1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Gallay ◽  
Zdenko Hochmuth ◽  
Ján Kaňuk ◽  
Jaroslav Hofierka

Abstract. The change of hydrological conditions during the evolution of caves in carbonate rocks often results in a complex subterranean geomorphology, which comprises specific landforms such as ceiling channels, anastomosing half tubes, or speleothems organized vertically in different levels. Studying such complex environments traditionally requires tedious mapping; however, this is being replaced with terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning overcomes the problem of reaching high ceilings, providing new options to map underground landscapes with unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. The acquired point cloud can be handled conveniently with dedicated software, but applying traditional geomorphometry to analyse the cave surface is limited. This is because geomorphometry has been focused on parameterization and analysis of surficial terrain. The theoretical and methodological concept has been based on two-dimensional (2-D) scalar fields, which are sufficient for most cases of the surficial terrain. The terrain surface is modelled with a bivariate function of altitude (elevation) and represented by a raster digital elevation model. However, the cave is a 3-D entity; therefore, a different approach is required for geomorphometric analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of high-resolution cave mapping and 3-D modelling to better understand the palaeohydrography of the Domica cave in Slovakia. This methodological approach adopted traditional geomorphometric methods in a unique manner and also new methods used in 3-D computer graphics, which can be applied to study other 3-D geomorphological forms.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jaboyedoff ◽  
F. Baillifard ◽  
F. Philippossian ◽  
J.-D. Rouiller

Abstract. Based on the assumption that major class of rock instabilities are created by discontinuities, a method is proposed to estimate the fracture density by means of a digital elevation model (DEM). By using the mean orientation, the mean spacing and the mean trace length of discontinuity sets potentially involved in slope instabilities and a DEM, it is possible to calculate the mean number of discontinuities of a given set per cell of the DEM. This would allow for an estimation of the probability of the presence of at least one discontinuity in a given area or simply in a topographic cell of the DEM. This analysis highlights sites potentially affected by rockslides within a region. Depending on the available data, the mean number can be calculated either by area, or along a line parallel to the mean apparent spacing. The effective use of the probability of occurrence is dependent on the size of the discontinuities because short and closely spaced discontinuities will have a 100% probability of occurrence in each favorable location. The a posteriori prediction of a recent rockslide is discussed as an example.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walicka ◽  
Jóźków ◽  
Kasprzak ◽  
Borkowski

Fluvial transport is a natural process that shapes riverbeds and the surrounding terrain surface, particularly in mountainous areas. Since the traditional techniques used for fluvial transport investigation provide only limited information about the bed load transport, recently, laser scanning technology has been increasingly incorporated into research to investigate this issue in depth. In this study, a terrestrial laser scanning technique was used to investigate the transport of individual boulders. The measurements were carried out annually from 2011 to 2016 on the Łomniczka River, which is a medium-sized mountain stream. The main goal of this research was to detect and determine displacements of the biggest particles in the mountain riverbed. The methodology was divided into two steps. First, the change zones were detected using two strategies. The first strategy was based on differential digital elevation model (DEM) creation and the second involved the calculation of differences between point clouds instead of DEMs. The experiments show that the second strategy was more efficient. In the second step, the displacements of the boulders were determined based on the detected areas of change. Using the proposed methodology, displacements for individual stones in each year were determined. Most of the changes took place in 2012–2014, which correlates well with the hydrological observations. During the six-year period, movements of individual particles with diameters less than 0.8 m were observed. Maximal displacements in the observed period reached 3 m. Therefore, it is possible to determine both vertical and horizontal displacement in the riverbed using multitemporal TLS.


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