TopoUSM
Ambient shader for Digital Elevation Models
Ambient shader for Digital Elevation Models
14 July 2018: QGIS Plugin version is almost coming! See demo.
2017: Reference code available in Python 3
Enabling both improved shading and enhanced visualization
Enabling both improved shading and enhanced visualization
Hillshade vs TopoUSM.
Hillshade vs TopoUSM.
Slope vs TopoUSM. Works fine on LatLon grid.
Slope vs TopoUSM. Works fine on LatLon grid.
How it works
How it works
- Each pixel represents residual z-value from the "unsharped" terrain.
- Ridges get highlighted while valleys and basins get darkened, as such illuminated by ambient light.
- Logarithmic dynamic range compression may be applied to reduce the whitening of cones.
- Adjusting r (radius) enables you to control which features in different scales to be enhanced.
- In the larger r, sparse sampling may be used to improve the processing speed.
- Composite of TopoUSM layers in optimal balance is visually scalable. Hard to get saturated by microtopography when it is zoomed-out.
Application to 3D models
Application to 3D models
AW3D30 DSM (JAXA) in BlenderGIS with TopoUSM textures
References of the data used in the pictures:
- Red Sea and Arabian Shield - GEBCO 2014 Grid
- Big Obsidian Flow, Newberry volcano - DOGAMI LiDAR Quadrangle Series & USGS Topo Map
- Mt. St. Helens - University of Washington Library
- Bali Island - JAXA ALOS World 3D 30m DSM (AW3D30)
- Rock Mesa, South Sister volcano - DOGAMI LiDAR Quadrangle Series
- Southern Japan - GEBCO 2014 Grid
- Dome O, Havre caldera
All rights reserved for these pictures.