Brief communication: Rapid machine-learning-based extraction and measurement of ice wedge polygons in high-resolution  digital elevation models

Abolt, Charles J.; Young, Michael H.; Atchley, Adam L.; Wilson, Cathy J.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-237-2019

Articles | Volume 13, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-237-2019

© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-237-2019

© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 13, issue 1

Brief communication

|

25 Jan 2019

Brief communication |

| 25 Jan 2019

Brief communication: Rapid machine-learning-based extraction and measurement of ice wedge polygons in high-resolution digital elevation models

Charles J. Abolt, Michael H. Young, Adam L. Atchley, and Cathy J. Wilson

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Final revised paper (published on 25 Jan 2019)
Supplement to the final revised paper
Preprint (discussion started on 11 Sep 2018)
Supplement to the preprint

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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- Supplement

RC1: 'Review for: Rapid machine learning-based extraction and measurement of ice wedge polygons in airborne lidar data', Ingmar Nitze, 21 Sep 2018
- AC1: 'Response to Referee 1', Charles Abolt, 02 Nov 2018
  - RC3: 'Rapid machine learning-based extraction and measurement of ice wedge polygons in high-resolution digital elevation models', Ingmar Nitze, 12 Nov 2018
    - AC3: 'Response to Referee 1', Charles Abolt, 10 Dec 2018
RC2: 'Comment on “Brief communication: Rapid machine learning-based extraction and measurement of ice wedge polygons in airborne lidar data”', Weixing Zhang, 27 Sep 2018
- AC2: 'Response to Referee 2', Charles Abolt, 02 Nov 2018
  - RC4: 'Comment on “Brief communication: Rapid machine learning-based extraction and measurement of ice wedge polygons in airborne lidar data”', Weixing Zhang, 15 Nov 2018
    - AC4: 'Response to Referee 2', Charles Abolt, 10 Dec 2018

Peer-review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision

AR by Charles Abolt on behalf of the Authors (17 Dec 2018) Author's response Manuscript

ED: Publish as is (04 Jan 2019) by Moritz Langer

AR by Charles Abolt on behalf of the Authors (10 Jan 2019) Manuscript

Short summary

We present a workflow that uses a machine-learning algorithm known as a convolutional neural network (CNN) to rapidly delineate ice wedge polygons in high-resolution topographic datasets. Our workflow permits thorough assessments of polygonal microtopography at the kilometer scale or greater, which can improve understanding of landscape hydrology and carbon budgets. We demonstrate that a single CNN can be trained to delineate polygons with high accuracy in diverse tundra settings.