Adaptive Tessellation Method for Creating TINS from GIS Data

Abstract

Terrain models created from triangulated irregular networks (TINs) can be used to delineate watershed and subbasin boundaries. However, an important criterion for accurately defining boundaries is that triangle edges of the TIN honor linear drainage features such as streams, canals, and roads. Typically, this requires a certain amount of labor-intensive, manual editing. A new algorithm has been developed for automatically creating TINs from a set of Geographic Information System (GIS) objects that correspond to the drainage features. The resulting TIN honors all of the drainage features and is well suited to automated basin delineation.