THE COMPARISON OF SPATIAL INTERPOLATION METHODS IN APPLICATION TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF DIGITAL TERRAIN MODELS

The paper presents the results of the study aiming at finding alternative methods to interpolate the surface, which would allow creating models comparable with those obtained using the topographic surface method. The comparison of spatial interpolation methods available in the free software such as SAGA GIS, GRASS GIS, SEXTANTE and gvSIG was conducted. The results were compared to the source data and to the model obtained using the topographic surface method. The influence of the type and quality of data on the characteristics of generated models was analyzed. The results of chosen spatial analysis carried out on the basis of constructed models were also compared. In summary, suggestions and proposals of spatial interpolation methods that were the most suitable for the creation of digital terrain models were formulated.