Application of wavelet analysis to the study of spatial pattern of morphotectonic lineaments in digital terrain models. A case study

Tectonic faults are often associated with characteristic geomorphological features such as linear valleys, ridgelines and slope breaks that can be identified as lineaments in remotely sensed images or digital terrain models. Lineaments of tectonic origin are often characterised by periodicity and characteristic spatial pattern. Unlike traditional methods of autocorrelation, variogram, lineament density and Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis is capable of capturing and describing both periodicity and spatial pattern of lineaments. In this paper, a case study is shown for the application of wavelet analysis to morphotectonic lineament investigation. Results of wavelet analysis are compared to traditional methods. Although this study involves DEM-derived morphological lineaments, the presented wavelet analysis can be also used for lineaments derived from remotely sensed images. These results hold for this case study and provide a good assessment of the relative abilities of wavelet analysis, but it remains to be seen how effective it is for other data sources, areas and geological terrain. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.