Analysis, Storage, and Retrieval of Elevation Data with Appications to Improve Penetration.

A method to use terrain elevation data for guidance is presented. Tree structure representation of contour trend data over regions is the basis of the method. Regions of different sizes obtained by quartering given elevation matrices are used region size corresponds to tree position. Two computer functions are discussed analysis methods to use tree-structured contour-trend information, suitable for onboard inflight computations and storage reduction methods to present elevation data as a new digital mapping product tree-structured contour-trend data, computable off-line on the USAETL Computer Sciences Laboratory STARAN array processor. Six figures detailing the analytic and data storage concepts discussed are given. An example illustrating the improved penetration possible from these methods is presented. Author