Developing National-Scale Terrain Attributes for New Zealand (TANZ)

摘要

Primary and secondary terrain attributes provide information essential for environmental modelling in a wide range of disciplines. Although topographical attributes are frequently developed and used in New Zealand, currently these attributes remain piecemeal and site specific. In this bulletin we define the parameters and protocols used in developing national-scale terrain attributes for New Zealand (TANZ). By 'national scale' we mean digital maps or surfaces extending over the entire national territory of New Zealand. The software TAPES-G (Terrain Analysis Programs for the Environmental Sciences - Grid) was used to develop primary terrain attributes at a 25 m resolution. The GIS platform Arclnfo, in conjunction with Arc Macro Language (AML), was used to extract source DEM data for large catchments across New Zealand using a macro-catchment coverage vector surface. Macro-catchments serve two purposes: (1) to ensure array size parameters for TAPES-G are not exceeded; and (2) the macro-catchment parameter acts as a boundary for TAPES-G processing. AMLs automate the development of terrain attributes and the subsequent merging of raster data into a series of national topographic attributes. In developing TANZ we set out to create high-quality surfacesuseful for productivity modelling and spatial interpolation of Pinus radiata data across New Zealand. TANZ surfaces will be additionally useful in other modelling environments including hydrology, geomorphology, pedology, and ecology with potential applications in resource management, environmental modelling, GIS, pedometrics, and geostatistics. This bulletin provides comprehensive technical information covering the protocols and processes used to develop TANZ.