The aim of the study course is to give students an insight into digital terrain models and their application. The tasks of the study course are: to provide knowledge about different types of digital terrain models; to promote understanding of impact of methods of storage and creation of these models on their quality and potential usage; to introduce popular open access and paid models; explain the sources of errors in digital terrain models and the adaptation of the models to various popular practical applications; to provide skills in the preparation of digital terrain models and acquisition of geomorphometric indicators based on them; to provide practical insight into the possibilities of using models in conducting applied research of physical and human geography. Language of course teaching: English, Latvian.
Results Knowledge: 1. is familiar with different types of digital terrain models and their acquisition methods; 2. characterizes the impact of acquisition methods on quality; 3. explains the principles of error propagation in the process of development and application of digital terrain models; 4. characterizes geomorphometric measures and their potential use; 5. explains the possibilities of digital terrain model usage in the study of processes of different scales. Skills: 6. prepares digital terrain models; 7. prepares visualizations of digital terrain models; 8. critically analyzes the accuracy and errors of digital terrain models; 9. adapts models for selected application; 10. performs extraction of the geomorphometry characteristics of the terrain; 11. analyzes the directions and properties of water flow; 12. analyzes the visibility of the terrain. Competences 13. reasonably selects the digital terrain model acquisition methodology and storage method appropriate for the intended use; 14. assesses the impact of errors and uncertainties in the data and their analysis on the results obtained; 15. makes suggestions for improving data processing processeses in order to draw higher quality conclusions.
