Terrain path optimization using the connectivity graph approach applied to GIS data structures

The main objective of this dissertation is to investigate alternative methods for converting GIS data representing terrain traversability conditions into a connectivity graph representation, enabling the determination of optimum terrain traversal paths, and implement them in the GIS environment. In addition to implementing variations of the conventional grid-based approach, an alternative grid-based method as well as a vector-based method for terrain path optimization is proposed and implemented in this study. Furthermore, special emphasis is put on the post processing of terrain paths.