A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors

With increasing research on geological hazards and the development of geographic information technology, slope units play an increasingly important role in landslide susceptibility assessment and prevention work. The scientific and reasonable division of slope units directly impacts the accuracy and...

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Main Authors: Ping Li, Junfu Fan, Yujie Du, Kuan Li, Yuke Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11279
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author Ping Li
Junfu Fan
Yujie Du
Kuan Li
Yuke Zhou
author_facet Ping Li
Junfu Fan
Yujie Du
Kuan Li
Yuke Zhou
author_sort Ping Li
collection DOAJ
description With increasing research on geological hazards and the development of geographic information technology, slope units play an increasingly important role in landslide susceptibility assessment and prevention work. The scientific and reasonable division of slope units directly impacts the accuracy and practicality of analysis results. Despite the significant progress in slope unit division techniques, most existing methods still have certain limitations, such as a strong dependence on manually set thresholds during the division process, resulting in low levels of automation and efficiency. To address this issue, a new parameter-free slope unit extraction algorithm that integrates terrain factors, called Terrain Factor Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division (TFPF-SU), is introduced. This eliminates the issue of manually setting parameter thresholds during the slope unit division process. This algorithm fully utilizes the terrain information provided by digital elevation models (DEMs) to accurately calculate the curvature, slope, and aspect data for each point. On the basis of the inherent consistency principles among slope, aspect, and curvature, object-oriented image segmentation technology is used to achieve slope unit division. We select Dongchuan District in Yunnan Province, China, as a test area to verify the TFPF-SU algorithm and conduct a detailed comparative analysis and validation of the results with those obtained via traditional hydrological analysis methods from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In the quantitative analysis, we utilize the size and shape of the slope units. The results indicate the following: ① the slope units obtained with the TFPF-SU method are more uniform in size, avoiding issues with oversized or irregularly shaped units; ② the slope unit shapes obtained with the TFPF-SU method are more reasonable, with about 70% of the units falling within a reasonable shape index range, compared to only about 32% with the hydrological method; and ③ the slope units produced by the TFPF-SU method align more closely with terrain authenticity, exhibiting a higher degree of topographical conformity.
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spelling doaj-art-a8515b8ff0a3494e83fbccd6eb4d61b82024-12-13T16:23:23ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114231127910.3390/app142311279A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain FactorsPing Li0Junfu Fan1Yujie Du2Kuan Li3Yuke Zhou4School of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaWith increasing research on geological hazards and the development of geographic information technology, slope units play an increasingly important role in landslide susceptibility assessment and prevention work. The scientific and reasonable division of slope units directly impacts the accuracy and practicality of analysis results. Despite the significant progress in slope unit division techniques, most existing methods still have certain limitations, such as a strong dependence on manually set thresholds during the division process, resulting in low levels of automation and efficiency. To address this issue, a new parameter-free slope unit extraction algorithm that integrates terrain factors, called Terrain Factor Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division (TFPF-SU), is introduced. This eliminates the issue of manually setting parameter thresholds during the slope unit division process. This algorithm fully utilizes the terrain information provided by digital elevation models (DEMs) to accurately calculate the curvature, slope, and aspect data for each point. On the basis of the inherent consistency principles among slope, aspect, and curvature, object-oriented image segmentation technology is used to achieve slope unit division. We select Dongchuan District in Yunnan Province, China, as a test area to verify the TFPF-SU algorithm and conduct a detailed comparative analysis and validation of the results with those obtained via traditional hydrological analysis methods from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In the quantitative analysis, we utilize the size and shape of the slope units. The results indicate the following: ① the slope units obtained with the TFPF-SU method are more uniform in size, avoiding issues with oversized or irregularly shaped units; ② the slope unit shapes obtained with the TFPF-SU method are more reasonable, with about 70% of the units falling within a reasonable shape index range, compared to only about 32% with the hydrological method; and ③ the slope units produced by the TFPF-SU method align more closely with terrain authenticity, exhibiting a higher degree of topographical conformity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11279digital elevation modelslope unithydrological methodregion growinglandslide
spellingShingle Ping Li
Junfu Fan
Yujie Du
Kuan Li
Yuke Zhou
A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors
Applied Sciences
digital elevation model
slope unit
hydrological method
region growing
landslide
title A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors
title_full A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors
title_fullStr A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors
title_full_unstemmed A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors
title_short A New Parameter-Free Slope Unit Division Method That Integrates Terrain Factors
title_sort new parameter free slope unit division method that integrates terrain factors
topic digital elevation model
slope unit
hydrological method
region growing
landslide
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/23/11279
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