Development of Digital Elevation Models for Omo Forest Reserve Nigeria

Abstract

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a very important geospatial data used in modeling different hydrological and ecological phenomenon which are required in preserving our micro environment. DEMs are typically used to represent terrain relief. DEMs are particularly relevant for many applications such as lake and water volumes estimation, soil erosion volumes calculations, flood estimate, quantification of earth materials to be moved for channels, roads, dams, embankment etc. In this study, a total of 1,849 points coordinates with their respective elevations were obtained covering the entire study area. The algorithm used includes interpolated natural neighbour of Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) to generate Digital Elevation Model (DEMs) for the forest reserve. The contour lines were extracted from DEM at interval of 20 m from one another. It was observed that the presence of Omo river at the southern part of the reserve is responsible for the very low altitude obtained. On the other hand, the altitude at the northern part of the reserve is relatively high because of the presence of rock outcrop, which also makes the vegetation to be scanty. Therefore, Geographic Information System was used to develop Digital Elevation Model for Omo forest reserve to serve as baseline information for the study area.