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

摘要： 等高线图、晕渲图和分层设色图等作为传统的三维数据的二维可视化方法，有各自的优点并被广泛地应用于屏幕显示和平面制图中。随着三维数据分辨率的不断提高，传统可视化方法已不能完全满足显示、挖掘隐含信息的要求。一种新的地形参数（openness）以及由此而产生的新的可视化方法（RRIM）被提出，这在很大程度上增强了二维显示的立体感和直观性。同时，在构造地貌研究的应用中，对细微构造的识别有着其他可视化方法无法比拟的优越性。良好的室内地貌解译工作不仅能够提高工作效率而且能够在一定程度上减少野外工作量。同时，对于森林覆盖严重、自然条件恶劣、不易到达而又具有研究价值的区域，RRIM提供了一种更好的工作方法，有着非常重要的实用价值。

关键词: 地貌, DEM可视化方法, openness, RRIM图