Martin Hubacek

Accuracy of the new generation elevation models

New elevation models from the Czech Republic are produced using airborne laser scanning. These new elevation models achieve much higher accuracy than previous models whose accuracy is expressed in meters. Declared accuracy was subjected to verification in five selected locations. Despite some problems with accuracy, especially in areas of significant microrelief shapes, these models comply the declared accuracy and they are a major contribution in the field of geoinformatics and terrain analysis. So far conducted tests confirm declared accuracy of both models.

Verification of digital analytical models: Case study of the cross-country movement

One of the fundamental tactical activities is manoeuver. Reliable geospatial information enables to support decision-making of commanders including manoeuvers planning. Geographic information systems allow modelling of an influence of the individual terrain components on movement of military vehicles depending on their technical and tactical characteristics. The quality of data sources and used models is necessary to consider in such as modelling. The Department of Military Geography and Meteorology at the University of Defence in Brno is focusing its research to this domain. The paper deals with verification of complex models of the Cross-Country Movement that were created using standard digital geographic data for typical vehicles being used in the Czech Army.

Analysis of vehicle movement possibilities in terrain covered by vegetation

Movement in the space is one of the basic preconditions for the tasks fulfilment of armies and rescue units. However one third of European territory is covered by forests. Forest stand is generally considered as a movement obstacle, however there are situation when it is necessary to carry out the movement across it. It is essential to know the information about the trunk density, their thickness, height and other parameters to determine the cross-country movement possibility. The data obtained through the remote sensing methods data collection can be used to the determination of necessary attributes. Comparison of vegetation information acquired imagery and laser data shows that both methods can provide enough quality information for the forest throughput analysis processing.

Cost Assessment of Training Using Constructive Simulation

Modeling and simulation represent a common part of most human activities. Development of computer technology causes a massive advancement of computer simulation. Computer simulation offers many new views on the modeling and simulation while allowing penetration of simulation into other disciplines. Simulation has an irreplaceable role in the fields of training and education for centuries. Its application and development are largely associated with its use in the military. There is an analogous situation with constructive simulation, which is used as a tool for training of commanders and staffs of military units. The benefits of simulation for a higher quality of training are beyond doubt. Therefore, constructive simulation gradually penetrates into other spheres such as the training of emergency staff. However, relevant studies about the economic benefits of the use of constructive simulation for training are relatively rare. The presented cost comparison of the exercises is based on the authors’ experience gained during the implementation of various types of exercise at the Center of Simulation and Training Technologies Brno with the use of constructive simulation OneSAF.

Terrain Analysis for Armed Forces

The main activities of armed forces take place in the terrain. Knowledge of terrain impact on such activities is very substantial for their achievement. Terrain impact on chosen activities can be described using mathematical models and these can be applied in GIS. Beside the quality of mathematical models, the quality of used data, mainly their vagueness, has fundamental influence on final results of terrain analysis. When calculating parameters for complex models, it is necessary to consider data quality which influences the level of vagueness of the resulting calculations. To express this level of vagueness, a method of fuzzy logic was chosen and then fuzzy functions were used when calculating chosen tasks—model of terrain passability and model of helicopter landing sites selection. The complete procedures were applied in the environment of ArcGIS 10.

The Czech Republic DSM 1, the quality of the model in areas covered by vegetation and possibilities of its use for visibility analysis

Visibility analysis is in the military but also in other sectors one of the main activities for data collecting about objects of interest in terrain. Choosing observation spots may be random or based on a sophisticated selection. This selection is usually based on an analysis of geographic data. Digital surface model (DSM) is the key data model that is used for modelling visibility. These models are usually created by combining digital elevation model (DEM) and geodatabases containing information about ground objects. From 2016 is in the Czech Republic available DSM 1 which was created as a by-product of new DEM generation which were created by using airborne laser scanning technologies. The fundamental object in terrain that affects observation is vegetation. Verification of vegetation display in DSM pointed to problems in some areas. The main outcome of this work is to identify these locations, propose possibilities of removing the problems and use DSM for visibility analysis.

Identification of microrelief shapes along the line objects over DEM data and assessing their impact on the vehicle movement

Relief is one of the key components of the landscape. Therefore, its mapping and exploring has been done for centuries. Ways of examination the impact of the relief have been considerably extended by using geographic information systems. But until recently, it was difficult to study in detail the micro-relief components of relief. This was due to the fact that there were not sufficiently detailed digital elevation models, or they were created only for small areas. The new generation of digital elevation models produced by the airborne laser scanning technology is already so detailed and has reached such a high accuracy that now it is possible to study elements of micro-relief. Many of these elements are bound to linear objects in the landscape, especially roads and waterways. Micro-relief in their vicinity considerably affects the possibilities of vehicle movement across these objects. To identify these objects in DEM, to determine their trafficability and to explore the technical parameters of vehicles is the main focus of this paper.

Verification of the Movement Speed on Communication Network and the Vehicle Movement Modelling Possibilities for Defence and Crisis Management

The road transport is one of the basic types of moving people and material during situations of crisis. As far as it can be said the movement of vehicles is connected to the existing road network. Vehicles of military units and rescue teams must be able to move also outside communications. Knowledge of speed restrictions doe to the influence of individual landscape objects is therefore important for proper transport planning. That is the reason why part of the research is focused on monitoring of the vehicle movements on communications and on field and forest roads. To monitor the vehicles there are used GNSS receivers. Position and velocity records are then analysed according to characteristics of the communications and their surroundings. Based on previously conducted and processed measurements it is possible to demonstrate the influence of road type and curvature on the vehicle speed. Indeterminate results occurred in cases of the slope and obstacles around communications. The results and conclusions after completion of the research will help with more realistic planning of vehicle movements in situations of crisis.

Combining Different Data Types for Evaluation of the Soils Passability

The soils, as one of the basic landscape components, influence directly or indirectly almost all human activities. They have radical influence on a food production, environment formation, water regime and many other aspects. Besides that, they are one of the dominant landscape components, which influences significantly passability of the off-road movement. The knowledge of this influence is necessary especially for farmers, foresters, soldiers and rescuers. Farmers and foresters have an opportunity to postpone their work when the conditions are inconvenient. But rescuers and soldiers must accomplish their tasks immediately. So it is very important for them to know how they can move and which vehicle they can use in the required area. The big amount of data is necessary to evaluate the soil. Except for own soil databases there are mainly meteorological information, because weather has significant influence on the behaviour of the particular soil. Precipitations are the most fundamental of all the meteorological components or phenomena. Except for weather, there are also other components of landscape influencing the soil characteristics, such as vegetation, drainage and especially relief, which affect significantly drain and accumulation of water in soils. The main goal of the undergoing investigation is to predict the influence of soils on vehicle movement in dependence on soil characteristics, weather information and modelled drain conditions. The actual modelling employs digital soil database, detailed elevation models, radar images of precipitations, meteorological information from stationary stations and penetrometric measurement realized in different soil conditions. This modelling will be implemented to the cross-country movement model, which caused improvement to the older version of the model of cross-country movement and makes the model more accurate.