Relative Elevation Determination from LANDSAT Imagery

In LANDSAT imagery, spectral and spatial information can be used to detect the drainage network as well as the relative elevation model in mountainous terrain. To do this, the mixed information of material reflectance and topographic modulation in the original LANDSAT imagery must be first separated. From the material reflectance information, big visible rivers can be detected. From the topographic modulation information, ridges and valleys can be detected and assigned relative elevations. Finally, a relative elevation model can be generated by interpolating values for nonridge and nonvalley pixels.