Mathematical Morphology in Geomorphology and GISci

This book presents a multitude of mathematical morphological approaches for processing and analyzing digital images in quantitative geomorphology and geographic information science (GISci). Covering many interdisciplinary applications, the book explains how to use mathematical morphology not only to perform quantitative morphologic and scaling analyses of terrestrial phenomena and processes, but also to deal with challenges encountered in quantitative spatial reasoning studies. Easy-to-understand equations, straightforward explanations, and clear illustrations allow readers without a background in mathematical morphology to understand the material and implement the ideas.

Mathematical Morphology in Geomorphology and GISci presents a multitude of mathematical morphological approaches for processing and analyzing digital images in quantitative geomorphology and geographic information science (GISci). Covering many interdisciplinary applications, the book explains how to use mathematical morphology not only to perform quantitative morphologic and scaling analyses of terrestrial phenomena and processes, but also to deal with challenges encountered in quantitative spatial reasoning studies.

For understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of terrestrial phenomena and processes, the author provides morphological approaches and algorithms to:

• Retrieve unique geomorphologic networks and certain terrestrial features
• Analyze various geomorphological phenomena and processes via a host of scaling laws and the scale-invariant but shape-dependent indices
• Simulate the fractal-skeletal-based channel network model and the behavioral phases of geomorphologic systems based on the interplay between numeric and graphic analyses
• Detect strategically significant sets and directional relationships via quantitative spatial reasoning
• Visualize spatiotemporal behavior and generate contiguous maps via spatial interpolation

Incorporating peer-reviewed content, this book offers simple explanations that enable readers—even those with no background in mathematical morphology—to understand the material. It also includes easy-to-follow equations and many helpful illustrations that encourage readers to implement the ideas.