关键词: 地貌, DEM可视化方法, openness, RRIM图

Abstract: With rapid improvement in resolution of three dimensional topographic data, more and more high-resolution remote sensing data are applied in the study of geomorphology and seismo-geology. The contour map, hill shading map and hypsometric tint map are original visualization methods of plan view for three dimensional topographic data. They all have their own advantages and have been widely used in screen display and plane graphics, and they usually are mixed and merged to enhance the expression ability of information as a complement to each other. But the results still can not completely satisfy the demand of displaying and exploring the hiding information. As a result, how to utilize sufficiently the high-resolution remote sensing data and various visualization methods to make better expression of topography and detect small geomorphic features has been concerned by many scientists.
A new topographic parameter, termed openness, and a new visualization method, termed RRIM, have been developed to enhance the three-dimension effect and produce a fine image of topographic structure with no shade, which does not need any professional ability for its audiences and additional instruments. In the meanwhile, the RRIM has the incomparable predominance in identifying the subtle tectonic geomorphic features, which is very important in the research of geomorphology. If the three dimensional topographic data have the highest resolution and positioning accuracy relative to the hand-held measuring devices in field work, the geomorphologic interpretation work indoors will take place of the field work in a large extent. As a result, the new visualization not only can improve work efficiency, but also reduce the amount of field work. For forest area, tough natural conditions area and no access area which are of research value, RRIM provides a better method and has an important practical value.
Finally, we hope that the new visualization method can play a larger role in geomorphologic interpretation work, especially in active tectonics research and active fault mapping.

Key words: DEM, visualization method, openness, RRIM