Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Application of Geographic Information Systems in Analysing Topographic Roughness for Nyanga District of Zimbabwe

Version 1 : Received: 14 December 2023 / Approved: 15 December 2023 / Online: 15 December 2023 (14:53:52 CET)

How to cite: Chipatiso, E. Application of Geographic Information Systems in Analysing Topographic Roughness for Nyanga District of Zimbabwe. Preprints 2023, 2023121181. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1181.v1 Chipatiso, E. Application of Geographic Information Systems in Analysing Topographic Roughness for Nyanga District of Zimbabwe. Preprints 2023, 2023121181. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202312.1181.v1

Abstract

The Topographic Ruggedness Index (TRI) is one of the essential measurement in topographic analysis, as well as in explaining biodiversity and geo-diversity. This study demonstrate how to utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to generate TRI for Nyanga District using Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Though the TRI strongly depends on a local scale slope derived from an average adjacent neighbor slope algorithm, and selection of different lag distances in the computation of spatial variability, the measurement demonstrated that areas of higher altitude have higher ruggedness index. The TRI model was generated by computing focal statistics to determine focal sum of DEM and of DEM ². The final TRI was computed using Math Algebra (Raster Calculator) to generate layers of different ruggedness suitable for topographic and biodiversity analysis. The algorithm presented could also be used for smaller areas with high quality data and corrected DEMs. Despite widespread adoption, ruggedness metrics require thorough testing using both artificial landscapes and real world applications.

Keywords

Topographic Roughness Index; Geographic Information Systems; Digital Elevation Model; Focal Statistics

Subject

Computer Science and Mathematics, Data Structures, Algorithms and Complexity

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