Model for the Volume-Area-Depth Relations of Midfield Ponds using LiDAR

Abstract

Small midfield ponds have important functions in hydrology and ecology of hummocky areas of Poland. Because of their sensitivity to meteorological conditions they undergo changes in number and hydroperiod as a result of climate changes and agriculture pressure. Accurate estimate of the pond area and storage capacities needs current high-resolution elevation data. In this paper, we developed 0.2m and 1.0m bare-earth DEMs from LiDAR data and compared them with DEMs obtained from old bathymetric maps. Then we calculated A-h and V-h relations and compared them with relations derived from simplified models describing pond shape. The analyses showed that LiDAR data are useful also to detect changes in the ponds morphometry.

Keywords

• midfield pond
• LIDAR
• DEM