Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Voronoi Diagram Approach To Defining Surface Hydrography Using Lidar-Generated Bare Earth Sample Points., Gerald B. Gabrisch

Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) typically rely on raster grid data structures to define surface hydrography and define watershed boundaries. The interpolation of grids from sample points and the algorithms used to define flow directions introduce error and compromise data quality, especially in areas of low relief. This research proposes a new approach in hydrographic geomorphometry, using Voronoi diagrams generated from airborne laser altimetry data points to determine flow direction and define watershed boundaries for the Lummi Indian Reservation in Whatcom County, Washington State. In theory, the Voronoi diagram approach will bypass the errors introduced by the raster grid by constructing …