Red Relief for a Japanese Volcano

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Why we love it

Technology and art flow together in this map to illustrate the influence of a volcano on Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands. With stunning visual impact, the map reveals both major structures and fine details that would otherwise be lost under a blanket of vegetation. We love how this map serves as a kind of 3D sonogram for the growing earth with colors and shading to show historic and hidden lava flows.

Why it works

New technology calls for new visualisation methods such as this Red Relief Image Map (RRIM) technique. Here, we see high-resolution 3D topographic data, made available by modern LiDAR systems, combined with multiple data layers to simultaneously show topographic slope, concavities and convexities. The detail is so engaging, it leaves you to wonder why more maps of volcanoes, fault zones, landslides and slope failures aren’t done this way. 

Important steps

  • Calculate the terrain slope with obtained data

    Obtain your 3D data, such as LiDAR, SRTM, GTOP030, ETOPO2. Calculate the terrain slope.

  • Calculate positive and negative openness

    Calculate the positive openness values that represent bumps, hills, and mountains. Calculate the negative openness values that represent sinks, dips, valleys, etc.

  • Apply RRIM colour and shading settings

    Apply RRIM colour settings, where steep areas are red and flat areas are white. Apply RRIM shading settings, where ridges are white and valleys are black.

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Requirements

  • Data and software

    The 3D data comes from LiDAR, SRTM, GTOP030, ETOPO2, or other sources. Software used: ArcMap.
    View SRTM
    View GTOP030
    View ETOPO2

  • Analysis

    The slope gradient and positive openness and negative openness are calculated from DEM. Ridge-valley value is calculated from positive and negative openness.
    View Red Relief Image Map website

  • Time

    The Red Relief Image Map is the result of years of research and testing. Creating an individual map such as this takes a few days to process the data, apply the colours and shading and review.
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Tips and tricks

  • Colours effect reader’s perception

    Slope is expressed with a colour. Red has a strong effect on the reader’s perception.

  • Care about the fine details

    Openness calculation is what gives relative relief—the fine detail in the map.

  • Care about the colours

    The colour combination brings out the detail.
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Resources

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Portion of Red Relief map image

Map Author

Tatsuro Chiba

I work at Asia Air Survey Company, and teach at Nihon University. I write the Muttering by One Scientist (ある火山学者のひとりごと) blog.

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