Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study

<p>Digital elevation models (DEMs) are currently one of the most widely used data sources in glacier thickness change research, due to the high spatial resolution and continuous coverage. However, raw DEM data are often misaligned with each other, due to georeferencing errors, and a co-registr...

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Main Authors: T. Li, Y. Hu, B. Liu, L. Jiang, H. Wang, X. Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-12-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/5299/2023/tc-17-5299-2023.pdf
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author T. Li
T. Li
Y. Hu
Y. Hu
B. Liu
L. Jiang
L. Jiang
H. Wang
X. Shen
author_facet T. Li
T. Li
Y. Hu
Y. Hu
B. Liu
L. Jiang
L. Jiang
H. Wang
X. Shen
author_sort T. Li
collection DOAJ
description <p>Digital elevation models (DEMs) are currently one of the most widely used data sources in glacier thickness change research, due to the high spatial resolution and continuous coverage. However, raw DEM data are often misaligned with each other, due to georeferencing errors, and a co-registration procedure is required before DEM differencing. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of the two classical co-registration methods proposed by Nuth and Kääb (2011) and Rosenholm and Torlegard (1988). The former is currently the most commonly used method in glacial studies, while the latter is a seminal work in the photogrammetric field that has not been extensively investigated by the cryosphere community. Furthermore, we also present a new residual correction method using a generalized additive model (GAM) to eliminate the remaining systematic errors in DEM co-registration results. The performance of the two DEM co-registration methods and three residual correction algorithms (the GAM-based method together with two parametric-model-based methods) was evaluated using multiple DEM pairs from the Greenland Ice Sheet and mountain glaciers, including Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) DEMs, ZiYuan-3 (ZY-3) DEMs, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM, and the Copernicus DEM. The experimental results confirm our theoretical analysis of the two co-registration methods. The method of Rosenholm and Torlegard has a greater ability to remove DEM misalignments (an average of 4.6 % and 13.7 % for the test datasets from Greenland Ice Sheet and High Mountain Asia, respectively) because it models the translation, scale, and rotation-induced biases, while the method of Nuth and Kääb considers translation only. The proposed GAM-based method performs statistically better than the two residual correction methods based on parametric regression models (high-order polynomials and the sum of the sinusoidal functions). A visual inspection reveals that the GAM-based method, as a non-parametric regression technique, can capture complex systematic errors in the DEM co-registration residuals.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-04073881d1af4173be363a054cc0da5b2023-12-14T12:52:16ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242023-12-01175299531610.5194/tc-17-5299-2023Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative studyT. Li0T. Li1Y. Hu2Y. Hu3B. Liu4L. Jiang5L. Jiang6H. Wang7X. Shen8State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430077, ChinaCollege of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430077, ChinaSchool of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430077, ChinaCollege of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430077, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430077, China<p>Digital elevation models (DEMs) are currently one of the most widely used data sources in glacier thickness change research, due to the high spatial resolution and continuous coverage. However, raw DEM data are often misaligned with each other, due to georeferencing errors, and a co-registration procedure is required before DEM differencing. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of the two classical co-registration methods proposed by Nuth and Kääb (2011) and Rosenholm and Torlegard (1988). The former is currently the most commonly used method in glacial studies, while the latter is a seminal work in the photogrammetric field that has not been extensively investigated by the cryosphere community. Furthermore, we also present a new residual correction method using a generalized additive model (GAM) to eliminate the remaining systematic errors in DEM co-registration results. The performance of the two DEM co-registration methods and three residual correction algorithms (the GAM-based method together with two parametric-model-based methods) was evaluated using multiple DEM pairs from the Greenland Ice Sheet and mountain glaciers, including Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) DEMs, ZiYuan-3 (ZY-3) DEMs, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM, and the Copernicus DEM. The experimental results confirm our theoretical analysis of the two co-registration methods. The method of Rosenholm and Torlegard has a greater ability to remove DEM misalignments (an average of 4.6 % and 13.7 % for the test datasets from Greenland Ice Sheet and High Mountain Asia, respectively) because it models the translation, scale, and rotation-induced biases, while the method of Nuth and Kääb considers translation only. The proposed GAM-based method performs statistically better than the two residual correction methods based on parametric regression models (high-order polynomials and the sum of the sinusoidal functions). A visual inspection reveals that the GAM-based method, as a non-parametric regression technique, can capture complex systematic errors in the DEM co-registration residuals.</p>https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/5299/2023/tc-17-5299-2023.pdf
spellingShingle T. Li
T. Li
Y. Hu
Y. Hu
B. Liu
L. Jiang
L. Jiang
H. Wang
X. Shen
Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study
The Cryosphere
title Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study
title_full Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study
title_fullStr Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study
title_full_unstemmed Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study
title_short Co-registration and residual correction of digital elevation models: a comparative study
title_sort co registration and residual correction of digital elevation models a comparative study
url https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/5299/2023/tc-17-5299-2023.pdf
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