Published September 2009 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

New efficient methods for calculating watersheds

Creators

  • 1. IfB, HIF E12, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich (Switzerland)
  • 2. Departamento de Física, Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN (Brazil)
  • 3. Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60451-970 Fortaleza, Ceará (Brazil)

Description

We present an advanced algorithm for the determination of watershed lines on digital elevation models (DEMs) which is based on the iterative application of invasion percolation (IP). The main advantage of our method over previously proposed ones is that it has a sub-linear time-complexity. This enables us to process systems comprising up to 108 sites in a few CPU seconds. Using our algorithm we are able to demonstrate, convincingly and with high accuracy, the fractal character of watershed lines. We find the fractal dimension of watersheds to be Df = 1.211 ± 0.001 for artificial landscapes, Df = 1.10 ± 0.01 for the Alps and Df = 1.11 ± 0.01 for the Himalayas

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-5468/2009/09/P09007

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/1742-5468/2009/09/P09007;
PII
S1742-5468(09)28119-2;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Statistical Mechanics
Journal Volume
2009
Journal Issue
09
Journal Page Range
[12 p.]
ISSN
1742-5468

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
45035761
Subject category
S97: MATHEMATICAL METHODS AND COMPUTING;
Descriptors DEI
ACCURACY; ALGORITHMS; ALPS; FRACTALS; HIMALAYAS; ITERATIVE METHODS; LEVELS; WATERSHEDS
Descriptors DEC
CALCULATION METHODS; MATHEMATICAL LOGIC; MOUNTAINS