Positioning and mapping locations and routes of extended visibility through GIS digital elevation data

Abstract

It is common for people travelling for recreational purposes to want routes that present remarkable view, continuity in their viewshed with scenes that are unusual or rare for their everyday routine. Geographical Information System (GIS) routines today, embody the ability to calculate the viewshed and to combine visibility basic analysis with digital elevation data within their spatial database. In this paper, with the use of GIS applications and tools regarding elevation data management, we attempt to define parameters that will help us to position locations and routes which are suitable in terms of their viewshed range, and, further on, to present this information on a map. We then proceed to a case study at Attica Prefecture in Greece, where we examine cases of point and area locations as well as routes as it concerns their visibility.