Coffee Talk - Quantitative interrogation of DEMs using TopoToolbox

Published: Feb 10, 2025 by ISG Board

Quantitative interrogation of DEMs using TopoToolbox

Wolfgang Schwanghart
University of Potsdam Germany

April 2nd , 2025
7:00 MDT (UTC -7), 9:00 EDT (UTC -5), 11:00 BRT (UTC -3), 14:00 GMT (UTC +0), 15:00 CEST (UTC+1), 16:00 EET (UTC +2), 22:00 CST (UTC +8)

Recording available in our YouTube channel

Bio: Dr. Wolfgang Schwanghart is a physical geographer and geomorphologist at the University of Potsdam, Germany. He has more than 15 years experience in working with DEMs and has written the software TopoToolbox, a MATLAB software for terrain analysis. His research focuses on landscape evolution on geological timescales and natural hazards, particularly in high mountain areas. In this context, he applies digital terrain analysis to extract as much quantitative and qualitative information as possible from DEMs, enhancing the understanding of tectonic and climatic influences on landscape evolution and improving predictions of natural hazards and risks.

Abstract: In this talk, I will present current developments within the project TopoToolbox 3 – improving the quality and reuse of a research software for terrain analysis. Adopting FAIR principles of research software development, the project will make the MATLAB-based TopoToolbox available in other high-level programming languages. I will also talk about the software design which aims at providing a platform that fosters creativity, development, and proto-typing. Lastly, I will show some applications.

Dear geomorphometry community,

We are pleased to invite submissions for a cover design contest for the second edition of the Geomorphometry book, to be published in 2026.

The submissions will be gathered in a poll, and the entire community will be able to vote for their favorite design.

If your design is selected, you will receive the appropriate credits, but would need to provide the necessary permissions to use the image.

You can submit your design by email before October 17th. Please ensure that the image is of at least 300 dpi resolution.

Get designing!

The editors,
Hannes Reuter
Carlos Grohmann
Vincent Lecours

Recent Research Progress in Geomorphometry in China

Dr. Li-Yang Xiong
Nanjing Normal University, China

October 1st , 2025
8:00 MDT (UTC -6), 10:00 EDT (UTC -4), 11:00 BRT (UTC - 3), 15:00 BST (UTC +1), 16:00 CEST (UTC +2), 17:00 EEST (UTC +3), 22:00 CST (UTC +8)

Recording available in our YouTube channel

Bio: Dr. Li-Yang Xiong is a professor at the School of Geographical Science, Nanjing Normal University (NNU), China. He is currently responsible for managing NNU’s research in Digital Terrain Model and Digital Terrain Analysis. His main research interests include AI based terrain modelling, loess terrain feature characterization, landform evolution modeling, paleotopography reconstruction and geomorphological process mining. His recent work involves deep learning-based DEM reconstruction, geomorphology-oriented digital terrain analysis, and value-added digital terrain applications for geoscience. He also serves as Associate Editor for the journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms and as an Editorial Board Member for International Journal of Geographical Information Science.

Abstract: In this talk, I will present some recent research achievements related to terrain modelling theory, terrain analysis method and terrain application in China. This terrain modeling theory focused on how we understand terrain knowledge and integrate it into AI methods for terrain reconstruction. In term of the terrain analysis method, the mathematical vector operation we believe should be highlighted in the research of Geomorphometry, which is suitable for multi-source data structure by considering the directional property of terrain parameters. Actually, this directional property should be made a full consideration for process- oriented geographical modeling and simulation. Lastly, I will show some terrain applications towards different typical geographical areas in China as well as global scale application.

Dear colleagues,

I’m grateful if you can circulate information on this PhD opportunity in Italy. The potential candidates can contact me (strevisani@iuav.it) for further information. Here the main elements of the position:

Research topics: Predicting and supporting benthic and pelagic biodiversity through geomorphometry and machine learning

Link to the call (Italian and English): https://www.unipa.it/didattica/dottorati/dottorato-xli/bando-di-accesso-ciclo-41/

Position code [BIODIV.OGS]

Research headquarters OGS Trieste and University of Palermo

Funded by OGS - Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale

Key dates: Deadline: 7th August 2025 - 14:59 (Italian time)