r.survey: a tool for calculating visibility of variable- size objects based on orientation

Abstract

Identification of terrain surface features can be done using approaches such as visual observation or remote sensing image processing. Accurate detection of survey targets at the ground level primarily depends on human visual acuity or sensor resolution, and then on acquisition geometry (i.e. the relative position and orientation between the surveyor and the terrain). Further, the delimitation of the observer's viewshed boundary or of the sensor's ground footprint is sometimes insufficient to ensure that all enclosed targets can be correctly detected. Size and orientation can hamper ground target visibility. In this paper we describe a new release of r.survey, an open-source spatial analysis tool for terrain survey assessment. This tool offers the necessary information to assess how terrain morphology is perceived by observers and/or sensors by means of three basic visibility metrics: 3D distance, view angle, and solid angle. It is also fully customizable, allowing single or multiple observation points, ground or aerial point of view, and size setting of the observed target, making it useful for many different purposes.