DEM Scripts Rewrite/Restructure

[dac]

There are currently a large number of scripts and libraries for DEM related tasks, most commonly used to:

• Create DEMs for use in APL
• Create DEMs from LiDAR data
• Perform general tasks on DEMs (e.g., reprojection)

These scripts are a complicated mix of bash and Python which are very difficult to debug. Previous attempts to simplify them have only increased the complexity.

There are problems with the existing scripts which are proving difficult to fix given the current state of the code, the biggest one is that the DEMs produced are often much larger than needed.

A rewrite/restructure of the existing DEM scripts is therefore proposed with the following aims:

• Use Python instead of bash where possible
• Store common functions within a Python library
• Make use of existing libraries both external (e.g., GDAL, Proj, GRASS Python bindings) and internal where possible.

Given these aims the following is proposed:

New DEM Scripts

create_apl_dem.py
Create DEM subset to navigation data for use in APL. Locations of existing DEMs (ASTER and NMB) will be hardcoded but will allow any DEM mosaic (real or virtual raster) to be provided.

  -o Out DEM, --outdem Out DEM
                        Output name for DEM
  -n Nav file, --nav Nav file
                        Navigation data (.sol / .sbet file)
  -p Main project directory, --project Main project directory
                        Main project directory (default=".")
  --aster               Use ASTER data
                        (/users/rsg/arsf/aster/aster_15m_dem_mosaic.vrt)
  --nextmap             Use Nextmap data (/users/rsg/arsf/nextmap/neodc/nextma
                        p_dsm_mosaic_bng.vrt)
  --srtm                Use SRTM data (/local1/data/basedata/srtm/srtm_global_
                        mosaic_90m.tif)
  --demmosaic Input DEM mosaic
                        Input DEM mosaic. For non-standard DEM. Use "--aster"
                        or "--nextmap" for standard DEMs.
  --separation_file Seperation file
                        File with Height offset to add if "--demmosaic" is
                        used and DEM heights are not relative to WGS-84
                        elepsoid. Not required if using "--aster", "--nextmap"
                        or "--srtm" for standard DEMs.
  -b BIL Navigation Files, --bil_navigation BIL Navigation Files
                        Directory containing post-processed navigation files
                        in BIL format. By default raw navigation data will be
                        used for "--project". If this is not available (e.g.,
                        for ARSF delivered data use this option and point to
                        "flightlines/navigation" within delivery directory
  --keepgrassdb         Keep GRASS database (default=False)

create_dem_from_lidar.py
Create DEM from lidar data

  -o Out DEM, --outdem Out DEM
                        Output name for DEM
  -s Out Screenshot File or Directory, --screenshot Out Screenshot File or Directory
                        Output directory for screenshots or single file for
                        screenshot of mosaic, in JPEG format.
  --las                 Input LiDAR data are in LAS format (default=True)
  --ascii               Input LiDAR data are in ASCII format (default=False)
  -r Resolution, --resolution Resolution
                        Resolution for output DEM (default=2)
  --in_projection In Projection
                        Input projection (e.g., UTM30N; default=UKBNG)
  --out_projection Out Projection
                        Out projection. Default is same as input
  -n Nav file, --nav Nav file
                        Navigation data (.sbet / .sol file) used if patching
                        with another DEM
  -p Main project directory, --project Main project directory
                        Main project directory, used if patching with another
                        DEM
  --demmosaic Input DEM mosaic
                        Input DEM mosaic to patch with in GDAL compatible
                        format. Vertical datum needs to be the same as output
                        projection. Only required for non-standard DEM. Use "
                        --aster" or "--nextmap" for standard DEMs.
  --aster               Patch with ASTER data
                        (/users/rsg/arsf/aster/aster_15m_dem_mosaic.vrt)
  --nextmap             Patch with Nextmap data (/users/rsg/arsf/nextmap/neodc
                        /nextmap_dsm_mosaic_bng.vrt)
  --hyperspectral_bounds
                        If patching with another DEM, get extent from
                        hyperspectral navigation data, recommended if DEM is
                        to be used with APL and navigation data are available.
  --lidar_bounds        If patching with another DEM, get extent from lidar
                        data plus default buffer of 2000 m. If DEM is not
                        required to be used with APL this option is
                        recommended.

New DEM Library
Putting all the DEM functions in a separate module (arsf_dem) is proposed rather than multiple libraries.

|-- arsf_dem
|   |-- arsf_dem.cfg
|   |-- common_functions.py
|   |-- dem_common.py
|   |-- dem_lidar
|   |   |-- ascii_lidar.py
|   |   |-- grass_lidar.py
|   |   |-- __init__.py
|   |   |-- laspy_lidar.py
|   |   |-- lastools_lidar.py
|   |   |-- lidar_utilities.py
|   |   |-- spdlib_lidar.py
|   |-- dem_nav_utilities.py
|   |-- dem_utilities.py
|   |-- grass_library.py

[dac]

Updated library structure.

[dac]

Have created a script (create_apl_dem.py) which will generate a DEM suitable for use in APL from NextMap or ASTER data.
A script to generate a DEM from lidar files has been created, currently does not patch with ASTER or NextMap data.

[dac]

Scripts now exist to create a DEM from ASTER, NextMap or SRTM for use in APL (create_apl_dem.py) and to create a DEM from lidar data, optionally patching with ASTER or NextMap data and performing horizontal and vertical reprojection as required (create_lidar_dem.py)

The paths for DEMs, separation files, etc., are read in from a config file (arsf_dem.cfg) installed alongside the library, these can be overridden by a copy in the home directory or processing folder. The justification for using a config file rather than defining in the Python library is the ultimate aim of releasing the software. A config fill will make it easier for users to set paths for their system.

Scripts are currently being tested.