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RVT

Relief Visualization Toolbox was produced to help scientist visualize raster elevation model datasets. We have narrowed down the selection to include techniques that have proven to be effective for identification of small scale features. Default settings therefore assume working with high resolution digital elevation models, derived from airborne laser scanning missions (lidar).

Despite this, techniques are also used for different other purposes. Sky-view factor, for example, can be efficiently used in numerous studies where digital elevation model visualizations and automatic feature extraction techniques are indispensable, e.g. in geography, geomorphology, cartography, hydrology, glaciology, forestry and disaster management. It can be used even in engineering applications, such as, predicting the availability of the GPS signal in urban areas.

Methods currently implemented are:

  • hillshading,
  • hillshading from multiple directions,
  • PCA of hillshading,
  • slope gradient,
  • simple local relief model,
  • sky illumination,
  • sky-view factor (as developed by our team),
  • anisotropic sky-view factor,
  • positive and negative openness,
  • local dominance.

For a more detailed description see references given at each method in the manual and a comparative paper describing them (e.g. Kokalj and Hesse 2017, see below).

RVT supports elevation raster file data conversion. It is possible to convert all frequently used single band raster formats into GeoTIFF, ASCII gridded XYZ, Erdas Imagine file and ENVI file formats. Mosaicking of multiple files, e.g. tiled lidar elevation models, works well if data are reasonable, i.e. if all the files have the same projection, resolution, square pixels etc.

Development of RVT was part financed by the European Commission's Culture Programme through the ArchaeoLandscapes Europe project and by the Slovenian Research Agency core funding No. P2-0406, and by research projects No. J6-7085 and No. J6-9395.

Downloads

Relief Visualization Toolbox Standalone version (EXE), Windows 64-bit, version 2.0. Relief Visualization Toolbox manual, version 2.0 (Instructions for use)

Please report any bugs and suggestions for improvements.

References

When using the tools, please cite:

  • Kokalj, Ž., Somrak, M. 2019. Why Not a Single Image? Combining Visualizations to Facilitate Fieldwork and On-Screen Mapping. Remote Sensing 11(7): 747.
  • Zakšek, K., Oštir, K., Kokalj, Ž. 2011. Sky-View Factor as a Relief Visualization Technique. Remote Sensing 3: 398-415.
  • Kokalj, Ž., Zakšek, K., Oštir, K. 2011. Application of Sky-View Factor for the Visualization of Historic Landscape Features in Lidar-Derived Relief Models. Antiquity 85, 327: 263-273.