Higher isn't Necessarily Better: Visibility Algorithms and Experiments

Wm Randolph Franklin
Rensselær Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY, 12180 USA
Phone: +1 (518) 276--6077
Fax: +1 (518) 276--6261
Internet: wrfATecse.rpi.edu
Clark K Ray

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
U.S. Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996 USA
Internet: dc6119@eecs1.eecs.usma.edu

Abstract:

We describe several fast programs to compute viewsheds and weighted visibility indices for observation points in a raster terrain. These programs explore various tradeoffs between speed and accuracy. We have analyzed many cells of data; there is no strong correlation between a point's elevation and its weighted visibility index. However, the, very few, high visibility points tend to characterize features of the terrain. This work can form a basis for automatically locating observers jointly to cover a terrain region of interest.

Keywords: visibility, viewshed, line-of-sight.

Wm Randolph Franklin
Tue Mar 28 14:17:21 EST 1995