Os investimentos no setor ferroviário brasileiro desde o processo de privatização das ferrovias trouxeram um expressivo crescimento ao setor, evidenciado principalmente pelo aumento do volume de cargas transportadas. Entretanto, a capacidade de processamento dos trens tem sido comprometida pela imposição de limites operacionais de velocidades, decorrentes principalmente do aumento do desgaste da via permanente em função da intensificação do tráfego da malha ferroviária e das restrições das características geométricas da via construída no final do século XIX. Neste contexto e diante das perspectivas de crescimento do setor na próxima década, o objetivo desta dissertação é investigar a validade da hipótese de que a construção de uma nova via, com melhores padrões de projeto e maior capacidade no transporte de cargas, é uma alternativa mais atraente em relação à recuperação e modernização de uma ferrovia existente. O processo de investigação consiste em um método expedito de comparação de cenários através de um modelo de custos generalizado. Neste método, as características planimétricas da nova ferrovia são obtidas pela geração de um conjunto de vetores por inspeção visual no software Google Earth, posteriormente em uma plataforma de desenho assistido por computador (CAD). As características altimétricas da ferrovia são estabelecidas pela associação da geometria da via em planta com os dados altimétricos obtidos do modelo digital de terreno proposto pelo SRTM, através de um método computacional de cálculo dos gradientes da via. A partir dessas informações são estimados os volumes de movimentação de terra associados a cada cenário estabelecido. Como aplicação prática, apresenta-se a análise para um trecho de cerca de 200 km de um dos principais corredores de exportação do país entre as cidades de Santa Fé do Sul e São José do Rio Preto, no Estado de São Paulo, sob concessão da empresa América Latina Logística S.A. Os resultados da investigação permitem inferir que, apesar das limitações impostas pela técnica de modelagem utilizada, o custo total de implantação de uma nova ferrovia supera em apenas 4,3% o custo total de reforma e retificação do traçado antigo, mostrando-se como uma alternativa atraente do ponto de vista econômico, técnico e ambiental. / Investments in the Brazilian railway sector since the privatization of the railways brought a significant growth to the sector, notable primarily by the increase of cargo volume transported. However the processing capacity of the trains has been compromised by the restriction of operation speed limits, due mainly to the increased wear of the railway superstructure with the traffic increase and the geometric restriction of the track built in the late 90th century. In this context and given the sectors growth prospects over the next decade, the goal of this research is to investigate the validity of the hypothesis that the construction of a railroad with new improved design standards and greater capacity is a more attractive alternative than the repair and modernization of an existing railway. The research process consists of an expedite method of scenarios comparison through a generalized cost model. The planimetry features of the new railway are obtained by generating a set of vectors by visual inspection using the Google Earth software, which are fed into a computer aided design (CAD). The altimetry characteristics of track are set by the association of the horizontal track geometry platform with the elevation data obtained from the digital terrain model proposed by SRTM, using a computational method to calculate the gradient of the track. Earthwork volumes are calculated for each scenario based on this date. As a practical application, it presents an analysis of a segment of approximately 200 km between the cities of Santa Fé do Sul and São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, operated by America Latina Logística S.A. The results of research may imply that, despite the limitations imposed by the modeling technique show that, the total cost of deployment of a new railway exceeds in only 4,3% the total cost of rectification and reform of the old track, and therefore constitutes an attractive alternative from the economical, technical and environmental point of view.

Submitted by Valquíria Barbieri (kikibarbi@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-25T22:48:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andre Pereira Dias.pdf: 4828090 bytes, checksum: 3d6bf1d9b3f9e5374b0309ddde97163f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2018-05-16T14:28:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andre Pereira Dias.pdf: 4828090 bytes, checksum: 3d6bf1d9b3f9e5374b0309ddde97163f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-16T14:28:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Andre Pereira Dias.pdf: 4828090 bytes, checksum: 3d6bf1d9b3f9e5374b0309ddde97163f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-20 / CAPES / A demanda por água é uma preocupação recorrente em várias regiões do planeta. O Brasil, e em especial a região do Médio Araguaia, é uma região do planeta onde esse recurso é abundante, e também um dos que tem menos ações voltadas para a conservação e uso racional de seus recursos naturais. A degradação do macrossistema de áreas úmidas do Médio Araguaia vem ocorrendo a partir dos anos 70 de forma acelerada. O presente estudo visa servir de subsidio para políticas ambientais de fiscalização, recuperação e conservação, de forma a garantir as funções ecológicas deste importante sistema aquático-terrestre, onde para qualquer planejamento é necessário o conhecimento sobre a abrangência e limites da região estudada. Sendo assim, a delimitação da superfície máxima inundável das áreas úmidas da planície de inundação da Bacia do Médio Araguaia, considerando-se as épocas de maior inundação, se constitui como o esforço principal desse trabalho. Para tanto foram utilizadas técnicas de sensoriamento remoto aplicadas a imagens multitemporais do sensor TM do satélite LANDSAT 5, onde, através dos índices gerados pela transformação Tasseled Cap (TC), foram extraídas as amostras de treinamento que permitiram realizar uma classificação supervisionada através do algoritmo Support Vector Machine (SVM). Paralelamente, foi gerado um modelo HAND (Height Above the Neareast Drainage) utilizando o modelo digital de elevação SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission). O cruzamento das informações obtidas pela classificação com o modelo hidrologicamente consistente HAND-SRTM permitiu estimar as áreas úmidas não detectadas pela classificação, tais como áreas alagadas sob densa cobertura vegetacional. Esses procedimentos permitiram delinear os limites máximos das áreas passíveis de inundação em época de cheia, que recobrem uma extensão de 88.119 km², cerca de 23% da área total da bacia do Médio Araguaia. / The demand for water is of great concern in many regions of the planet. In Brazil, particularly in the Araguaia region, water is an abundant resource, but is subject to poor conservation and water use policies. The degradation of the macrosystem of wetlands in the middle Araguaia has been taking place since the 1970s in an accelerated manner. This study aims to provide subsidy in the formulation of environmental policies for monitoring, recovery and conservation, which ensure the ecological functions provided by these important wetlands. In order to achieve that, the knowledge of the boundaries of the area to be studied is necessary. Thus, the main purpose of this work is the delimitation of the maximum surface likely to flood in the middle Araguaia basin, considering seasons of larger floods. Remote sensing techniques were used in multitemporal images from the LANDSAT 5 TM sensor, for the flood season. Through indexes generated by the Tasseled Cap (TC) transformation, areas of interest were obtained from the landscape elements, such as vegetation, soil, water, and wetlands. From training sample sets, a supervised classification was obtained using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. In addition, a HAND (Height Above the Nearest Drainage) model was created using the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM). The classes associated with humidity, resulting from the classification, were correlated to the altimetric classes obtained from the hydrologically consistent HAND-SRTM. Such procedures allowed the delineation of the maximum boundary of areas likely to flood during flood seasons, which cover 88,119 km² - around 23% - of the Médio Araguaia basin.

Being information most important one assets for the development of several areas of knowledge in various sectors of our society and knowing that in recent years with the emergence of new technologies and data sources available for free on the Internet, and also allies this, offering a wide variety of media in a big cloud that today we all know by WEB. Will be shown two solutions that were developed for the CR system Campeiro 7, related to precision farming. One is a module of computer system in which the main function is to extract MDT's from SRTM images of 90m and ASTER images 30 m resolution, and provide data for the structuring of these models, altimetric and slope on files patterns used for GIS mainly linked to agriculture. The purpose of this tool is to facilitate the acquisition of these data and provide simpler methods to accomplish the adjustment of the models and give conditions to perform the comparison of these models with other data types, such as grain production. The other computer system was implemented with mobile technologies for the removal and processing of data related to field activities done on the spot.This system in addition to performing the collection and processing of GPS data in real time, is designed to streamline processes, running on smartphone devices, due to the fact that it possesses features of a laptop. The system was created to shorten the time between the collection, processing and analysis, and also to provide results more quickly, providing alternative methods of information processing using remote resources. It also provides trace real-time ,task done in the field, such as monitoring activities carried by a tractor or a combine using telephone services or Internet. / Sendo a informação um dos bens mais importantes para o desenvolvimento das várias áreas do conhecimento nos mais variados setores de nossa sociedade e sabendo-se que nos últimos anos, com o surgimento de novas tecnologias e fontes de dados disponibilizados gratuitamente na internet, e também aliados a isto, uma oferta dos mais variados meios de comunicação em uma grande nuvem que hoje todos conhecemos por WEB. Serão mostradas duas soluções que foram desenvolvidas para o sistema CR Campeiro 7, ligadas à agricultura de precisão. Uma delas é um módulo de sistema computacional em que a principal funcionalidade é extrair MDT s a partir de imagens SRTM de resolução 90 m e ASTER de resolução 30 m, e prover dados para a estruturação destes modelos, altimétricos e posteriormente de declividade, em padrões de arquivos utilizados em SIG s principalmente ligados a agricultura. A proposta desta ferramenta é agilizar a aquisição destes dados e proporcionar métodos mais simples para realizar a estruturação dos modelos e dar condições de realizar o cruzamento destes modelos com outros tipos de dados, como os de produção de grãos. O outro sistema computacional foi implementado com tecnologias móveis para o levantamento e tratamento de dados ligados as atividades feitas a campo in loco. Este sistema além de realizar a coleta e tratamento de dados GPS em tempo real, foi desenvolvido para agilizar processos, funcionando em dispositivos smartphone, devido ao fato de possuir características de um computador portátil. O sistema foi criado para encurtar o tempo entre a coleta, o processamento e a análise, e também para disponibilizar os resultados de forma mais rápida, proporcionando métodos alternativos de processamento das informações utilizando recursos remotos. Proporciona também o rastreio, em tempo real, de tarefas feitas a campo, como o monitoramento de atividades exercidas por um trator ou por uma colhedora utilizando serviços de telefonia ou de internet.

O uso de geotecnologias pode contribuir de forma muito significativa para os estudos em geomorfologia. Considerando os principais componentes desta ciência, morfografia, morfometria, morfogênese e morfocronologia, os modelos digitais para a representação da superfície da Terra podem ser amplamente utilizados na aquisição de muitas destas informações. O uso de Modelos Digitais de Elevação (MDE) há alguns anos, já é uma realidade em estudos envolvendo geomorfologia. A sua utilização permite a aquisição de variáveis e parâmetros objetivos que podem servir à definição de critérios para o agrupamento de unidades geomorfológicas. Podendo, portanto, ser um instrumento valioso para mapeamento de áreas amplas em escalas de 1:50.000 e 1:100.000. Para tanto, é necessário definir os critérios coerentes e os algoritmos de segmentação que oferecem os melhores resultados para as diversas áreas de estudo. Os MDE gerados pela missão Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) são de vasta abrangência e contemplam todo o território nacional brasileiro. Portanto, os dados gerados pela missão podem ser uma importante fonte de informação para mapeamentos com metodologia única. O alcance deste objetivo não garante avanços metodológicos na cartografia geomorfológica, tendo em vista que a possibilidade de comparação entre diferentes cartas geomorfológicas de detalhe ainda é restrita. / Geotechnologies can contribute significantly to geomorphology studies. Whereas the main principles of this science, mophography, morphometry, morphogenesis and morphochronology, the digital models used to represent the Earth surface can be widely utilized in a bunch of these data. Lately, the use of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) can be considered a reality in geomorphology studies. The utilization allows the acquisition of objective variables and parameters that can be suitable for definition of geomorphological units. Hence, can be a valuable tool for wide area mapping using 1:50.000 and 1:100.000 scales. For that reason, it is necessary to define coherent criteria and the proper segmentation algorithm in order to reach better results for different study cases. DEM provided by Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) are wide range and cover the whole national territory. Therefore, data provided by this mission can be an important information for a single methodology mapping project.

O uso de geotecnologias pode contribuir de forma muito significativa para os estudos em geomorfologia. Considerando os principais componentes desta ciência, morfografia, morfometria, morfogênese e morfocronologia, os modelos digitais para a representação da superfície da Terra podem ser amplamente utilizados na aquisição de muitas destas informações. O uso de Modelos Digitais de Elevação (MDE) há alguns anos, já é uma realidade em estudos envolvendo geomorfologia. A sua utilização permite a aquisição de variáveis e parâmetros objetivos que podem servir à definição de critérios para o agrupamento de unidades geomorfológicas. Podendo, portanto, ser um instrumento valioso para mapeamento de áreas amplas em escalas de 1:50.000 e 1:100.000. Para tanto, é necessário definir os critérios coerentes e os algoritmos de segmentação que oferecem os melhores resultados para as diversas áreas de estudo. Os MDE gerados pela missão Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) são de vasta abrangência e contemplam todo o território nacional brasileiro. Portanto, os dados gerados pela missão podem ser uma importante fonte de informação para mapeamentos com metodologia única. O alcance deste objetivo não garante avanços metodológicos na cartografia geomorfológica, tendo em vista que a possibilidade de comparação entre diferentes cartas geomorfológicas de detalhe ainda é restrita. / Geotechnologies can contribute significantly to geomorphology studies. Whereas the main principles of this science, mophography, morphometry, morphogenesis and morphochronology, the digital models used to represent the Earth surface can be widely utilized in a bunch of these data. Lately, the use of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) can be considered a reality in geomorphology studies. The utilization allows the acquisition of objective variables and parameters that can be suitable for definition of geomorphological units. Hence, can be a valuable tool for wide area mapping using 1:50.000 and 1:100.000 scales. For that reason, it is necessary to define coherent criteria and the proper segmentation algorithm in order to reach better results for different study cases. DEM provided by Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) are wide range and cover the whole national territory. Therefore, data provided by this mission can be an important information for a single methodology mapping project.

Many regions in Africa are presently faced with an increasing flood risk due to impending climate change and population growth. One useful mitigation strategy to decrease this risk would be to map it, so that urban planning, warnings systems and emergency response subsequently could be designed to reduce societal vulnerability. This is, however, not widely feasible on the African continent, as developing countries often lack access to the topography and discharge data required to produce high- quality flood risk maps. To seek a way around this problem, on-going research is investigating the possibility of obtaining alternative model inputs, by using global datasets of elevation, derived from remote sensing, and methods to estimate flood flows. This thesis presents a case study within this context where the aim was to determine the accuracy of an African catchment-scale flood map, produced with the satellite product SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) as topography input, and to explore the potentials and limitations of such a model scheme. Two high-magnitude floods, occurring in year 2000 and 2013 in the Lower Limpopo Basin (Mozambique), were modelled for inundation extent, using a no-channel 2D model built for the LISFLOOD-FP flood modelling software. Flood water levels were also simulated to assess the models vertical performance. Model outcomes were evaluated against satellite imagery and recordings of high watermarks, adjusting the value representing the roughness of the floodplain to optimize flood extent correspondence. Due to different hydrograph dynamics, simulations of the two floods required different values of roughness (0.02 and 0.09 s m-1/3) to reach maximum accuracy (F = 0.59 and 0.64, respectively). However, the results also indicated that a model calibrated with a flood of relatively low return period potentially could be used to map rare flood events. Simulation inaccuracies were mainly attributed to (1) reservoirs and streams, temporarily connecting to the river system during high flow conditions, (2) limitations of the topography data, in terms of recognizing riverbed geometry and floodplain micro-topography, and (3) cloud cover, reducing the accuracy of flood extent reference data. The vertical simulation accuracy, with an average error of ± 2 m, was well within the uncertainty bounds of input data. Errors were in this case ascribed the SRTM’s representation of high slope terrain and possible radar speckles in urban areas. The findings of this study indicate that there is high potential in using SRTM data for mapping of high-magnitude flood risk in Africa, but also that consideration to river system complexity is crucial. / Många  områden  i  Afrika  står  för  närvarande  inför  en  ökad  översvämningsrisk  på  grund  avklimatförändringar och befolkningstillväxt. En användbar strategi att minska denna risk skulle vara att kartlägga den, så att stadsplanering, varningssystem och respons vid nödsituationer därefter skulle kunna utformas till att begränsa samhällets sårbarhet. Detta är dock inte möjligt på bred front över Afrikas kontinent, då utvecklingsländer ofta saknar det data av topografi och vattenflöde som behövs för producera högkvalitativa översvämningsriskkartor. För att försöka hitta ett sätt att kringgå detta problem undersöker pågående forskning möjligheten att generera alternativ modelleringsinput, från globalt tillgängligt höjddata, insamlat av satelliter, och metoder att uppskatta översvämningsflöden. Denna uppsats presenterar en fallstudie inom denna kontext där syftet var att bestämma kvalitén hos en översvämningskarta över ett Afrikanskt avrinningsområde, producerad med satellitprodukten SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) som topografiinput, och att utforska möjligheterna och begränsningarna med en sådan karteringsmodell. Två stora översvämningar, vilka inträffade år 2000 och 2013 i Nedre Limpopobassängen (Mocambique), simulerades för utbredning med hjälp av en 2D- model utan flodfåra byggd för modelleringsprogrammet LISFLOOD-FP. Vattennivåer simulerade också för att kunna bedöma modellens vertikala prestation. Resultaten jämfördes med satellitbilder och dokumenterade höga vattenmärken (observerade på t ex. husfasader), samtidigt som flodplanets flödesmotstånd justerades för att optimera överensstämmelsen. Då översvämningarna var av olika karaktär behövdes olika flödesmotstånd (0.02 and 0.09 s m-1/3) för att maximal kvalité på respektive översvämningskarta skulle uppnås. Denna kvalité beräknades till 0.59 och 0.64, på en index-skala (F) där 1.00 motsvarar en perfekt simulering. Trots olika optimala flödesmotstånd antydde resultaten även att en modell kalibrerad med en relativt frekvent återkommande översvämning möjligtvis kan användas till att kartlägga sällsynta översvämningar. Avvikelserna mellan dokumenterad och simulerad översvämningsutbredning tillskrevs i huvudsak: (1) sjöar och vattendrag som temporärt ansluter till flodsystemet under höga flöden, (2) begränsningar i topografidatat gällande att fånga flodens geometri och flodplanets mikro-topografi samt (3) moln som skymmer översvämningarna i referensdatat och minskar dess sanningshalt. Vattennivåer simulerades med ett genomsnittligt fel av±2 m, vilket med marginal ligger inom inputdatats totala osäkerhetsram. Avvikelserna troddes i detta fall bero på SRTM-datats representation av sluttande terräng och möjliga radarfläckar (reflektioner) i urbana områden. Resultaten i denna studie indikerar att det ligger stor potential i att använda SRTM- data för att kartlägga risken för stora översvämningar i Afrika, men belyser också vikten av attuppmärksamhet ges till flodsystems komplexitet.

The probability and impact of flooding is projected to increase in the future. This is due to climate and land-use changes (e.g. urbanization) in addition to the ongoing socioeconomic development of many floodplain areas. Exploiting the increasing availability of satellite data for flood inundation modelling will allow mapping floods in remote, data-poor areas to lower costs, and thereby make it possible to estimate flood risks in areas that today lack the economic resources needed for supporting risk assessment. In this context, this study has investigated the potentials and limitations of using low-cost, global remote sensing data (i.e. SRTM) to support flood inundation modelling. To this end, a case study of a river reach along the Mississippi was exploited. In particular, two flood inundation models were built by using the same 2D hydraulic model code (LISFLOOD-FP), but with two different topographical inputs, i.e. high quality/accuracy LiDAR topography data and the freely available SRTM topography data. The LiDAR data was lowered to the same resolution as the SRTM data and the two models were run with the resolution of 83x83 m2 . Thereafter, the models were compared by simulating two historical flood events of different magnitude. The comparison of the two models showed that flood inundation modelling with satellite data is more accurate (closer to the reference model, i.e. LiDAR-based model) for the higher magnitude flood event than for the lower magnitude flood event. This was attributed to the relatively reduced importance of micro topography during bigger flood events. An area-based performance measure gave a value of the correspondence (i.e. the fit) between the predicted flood extents for the two models. The areas/pixels were reclassified in ARC GIS to flooded or dry. Thereafter, areas flooded in both the LiDAR and the SRTM simulations were divided by the sum of the areas flooded in both or in one of the simulations (LiDAR or SRTM). From this procedure the fit could be determined, where a fit of 100 % would mean that the simulations had predicted the same flood extents. For the high magnitude flood event simulated in this study, the fit in terms of flood extent between the LiDAR-based and the SRTM-based model was 72 %, while the fit for the smaller flood was only 38 %. In this study, model calibration was preformed manually because of limited availability of time and computational power. However, this is not considered a major limitation as the work does not aim to make a faultless model of this river reach of the Mississippi, but rather to determine the potentials and limitations of SRTM topography data in supporting flood inundation modelling. Additional studies of rivers systems with different properties, flood magnitudes, vegetation covers and river scales should be conducted, to further validate the usability of remote sensing data for flood inundation modelling. / Stora områden runt om i världen har problem med översvämningar, som står för 40 % av alla dödsfall orsakade av naturkatastrofer. Det är troligt att risken för översvämningar kommer att öka i framtiden på grund av klimatförändringar och ändrad landanvändning, som till exempel urbanisering. Ett problem är att det ofta är dyrt att göra kartor som beskriver översvämningsrisker och därför finns det många områden där kunskap om riskerna saknas. I denna studie har det undersökts huruvida det är möjligt att använda globala fjärranalysdata (data från satelliter) för översvämningsmodellering. Detta skulle möjliggöra framställandet av kartor över översvämningsrisker till en låg kostnad, och därmed nå ut till områden där idag inte finns ekonomiska resurser nog för detta. En fallstudie har gjorts av en sträcka utmed Mississippifloden (USA) och två översvämningsmodeller har byggts genom att använda samma hydrauliska modelleringskod (LISFLOOD-FP). Skillnaden mellan modellerna var att den ena modellen byggdes med hjälp av LiDAR-topografidata, medan den andra modellen baserades på gratis SRTMtopografidata. LiDAR-data är högkvalitativt och högupplöst data (1 meter upplösning) insamlat från flygplan med hjälp av laser. SRTM-data har endast 30-90 meters upplösning (83 meter inom fallstudieområdet) och är insamlat av satelliter. Upplösningen av LiDAR-datat ändades till samma upplösning som för SRTM-datat och båda modellerna kördes med en upplösning av 83x83 m2 . De två modellerna jämfördes genom att två historiska översvämningar, en liten år 2008 och en mycket stor år 1993, simulerades. Jämförelsen av de två modellerna visade på att modellering med hjälp av satellitdata är mer precist och närmare referensmodellen, det vill säga den LiDAR-baserade modellen, för större översvämningar än för mindre översvämningar. Förklaringen till detta tillskrevs den relativt reducerade betydelsen av mikrotopografi för större översvämningar. Överrensstämmelsen mellan modellresultaten räknades ut genom att områdena/pixlarna först blev omklassificerade i ARC GIS som översvämmande eller icke översvämmade. Därefter delades antalet områden som svämmades över i båda simuleringarna med antalet områden som svämmades över i båda simuleringarna eller i den ena av simuleringarna. På detta sett kunde en faktor för överensstämmande bestämmas, där en faktor på 100 % innebar att modellerna förutspådde lika stora översvämningar. För den större översvämningen som simulerades överensstämde, i fråga om utbredning, de två modellerna (LiDAR och SRTM) till 72 %, medan modellerna för den mindre översvämningen endast överensstämde till 38 %. I denna studie gjordes kalibreringen manuellt då den tillgängliga tiden och datorkapaciteten var begränsad. Dock så anses inte detta vara en stor begränsning eftersom studien inte syftade till att göra en felfri modell av översvämningsriskerna utmed en sträcka av Mississippifloden, utan till att undersöka användbarheten och begränsningarna av satellitdata för översvämningsmodellering. Denna studie stödjer tidigare teorier om att globala satellitdata har stort användningsområde för att simulera översvämningsrisker. Dock behövs fler studier av flodsystem med olika egenskaper, storlek på översvämningar och vegetation göras för att ytterligare validera detta.

The objective of this research is to explore the information content of repeat-pass cross-track Interferometric SAR (InSAR) with regard to snow, in particular Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and snow depth. The study is an outgrowth of earlier snow cover modeling and radar interferometry experiments at Schefferville, Quebec, Canada and elsewhere which has shown that for reasons of loss of coherence repeat-pass InSAR is not useful for the purpose of snow cover mapping, even when used in differential InSAR mode. Repeat-pass cross-track InSAR would overcome this problem. As at radar wavelengths dry snow is transparent, the main reflection is at the snow/ground interface. The high refractive index of ice creates a phase delay which is linearly related to the water equivalent of the snow pack. When wet, the snow surface is the main reflector, and this enables measurement of snow depth. Algorithms are elaborated accordingly. Field experiments were conducted at two sites and employ two different types of digital elevation models (DEM) produced by means of cross track InSAR. One was from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model (SRTM DEM), flown in February 2000. It was compared to the photogrammetrically produced Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM) to examine snow-related effects at a site near Schefferville, where snow conditions are well known from half a century of snow and permafrost research. The second type of DEM was produced by means of airborne cross track InSAR (TOPSAR). Several missions were flown for this purpose in both summer and winter conditions during NASA's Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX) in Colorado, USA. Differences between these DEM's were compared to snow conditions that were well documented during the CLPX field campaigns. The results are not straightforward. As a result of automated correction routines employed in both SRTM and AIRSAR DEM extraction, the snow cover signal is contaminated. Fitting InSAR DEM's to known topography distorts the snow information, just as the snow cover distorts the topographic information. The analysis is therefore mostly qualitative, focusing on particular terrain situations. At Schefferville, where the SRTM was adjusted to known lake levels, the expected dry-snow signal is seen near such lakes. Mine pits and waste dumps not included in the CDEM are depicted and there is also a strong signal related to the spatial variations in SWE produced by wind redistribution of snow near lakes and on the alpine tundra. In Colorado, cross-sections across ploughed roads support the hypothesis that in dry snow the SWE is measurable by differential InSAR. They also support the hypothesis that snow depth may be measured when the snow cover is wet. Difference maps were also extracted for a 1 km2 Intensive Study Area (ISA) for which intensive ground truth was available. Initial comparison between estimated and observed snow properties yielded low correlations which improved after stratification of the data set.In conclusion, the study shows that snow-related signals are measurable. For operational applications satellite-borne cross-track InSAR would be necessary. The processing needs to be snow-specific with appropriate filtering routines to account for influences by terrain factors other than snow.

Geography and the Environment / Studies of the Amazon drainage network have primarily focused on the Western Basin and the Amazon Cone, but they have neglected the integration between these areas. Data presents a time gap in the Amazon’s development and the forces responsible for the organization of the drainage network are poorly understood. A key element towards gaining an improved awareness of the Amazon is the Eastern Amazon River Valley. The focus of this study is an 80,000 km² portion of this area. An integrated method is adopted that combines terrain information derived from a digital elevation model with geologic data. The interpretation of DEM data is unique to this study. Seven distinct surfaces were identified, along with numerous erosional environments. This observation supports a geomorphologic record of numerous erosional events starting in the Miocene. This finding is significant as it rejects previous models for staircase-like terraces for the Amazon, and establishes a timeline for the development of geomorphologic landforms in the study area. In addition, neotectonics events provide an alternative explanation to the generation of topography in the study area. It was concluded that geomorphology in the study area is the result of physical and chemical weathering, and modified by neotectonics. These findings provide alternative means for Amazon landscape evolution. / text

Mountain glaciers are expected to be the greatest contributor to sea level rise over the next century. Glaciers provide a good indicator of global climate and how to monitor their change is an increasingly important issue for climate science and for sea level rise forecasts. However, there has been little direct measurement of glacier volume change in New Zealand. This study explores the use of remotely sensed data for measuring glacier volume change from 1965 to 2006. Digital photogrammetric methods were used to extract topographic data of the Tasman Glacier from aerial photography and ASTER imagery for the years 1965, 1986, 2002 and 2006. SRTM C band data from 2000 were also analysed. Data were compared to an existing digital elvation model produced from the New Zealand Digital Topographic Database to test for their reliability. Using regression analysis, the data were filtered and points representing rock were used to correct points on the glacier ice for vertical bias. The quality of the data extracted from the aerial photography was good on rock and debris covered ice, but poor on snow. The data extracted from ASTER was much more reliable on snow in the upper glacier than the aerial photography, but was very poor in the lower debris covered region of the glacier. While the quality of the SRTM data is very high, there is a second order distortion present in the data that is evident over elevation differences. However, the overall mean difference of the SRTM rock from TOPODATA is close to zero. An overall trend could be seen in the data between dates. However, the 2006 ASTER data proved unreliable on the debris covered section of the glacier. Total volume change is therefore calculated for the period between 1965 and 2002. The data show a loss of 3:4km³ or 0:092km³ per year, an estimated 6% of the total ice in New Zealand. This is compared to estimates using the annual end of summer snowline survey between 1977 and 2005 of 1:78 km³, or 0:064km³ per year. The spatial resolution of ASTER makes high temporal resolution monitoring of volume change unlikely for the New Zealand glaciers. The infrequency of aerial photography, the high cost and vast time involved in extracting good quality elevation data from aerial photography makes it impractical for monitoring glacier volume change remotely. However, SRTM and other radar sensors may provide a better solution, as the data do not rely heavily on user processing.