Assessing the impact of Digital Elevation Model resolution on Elevation Gain Estimations in Trail Running

Abstract

This study addresses the challenge of accurately estimating Elevation Gain (EG) in trail running using GPS devices, where resolution of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) plays a critical role. We propose an algorithmic enhancement to increase the resolution of a 4m DEM to 20cm, aligning it closely with high-resolution LiDAR models. Quantitative analyses reveal that this method significantly improves EG estimations, demonstrating a considerable reduction in error margins compared to conventional EG estimation using raw GPS. Specifically, our findings indicate that the bilinearly interpolated DEM achieves near-LiDAR accuracy at 20cm resolution, with error rates markedly decreasing at this scale. This study underscores the potential of using enhanced-resolution DEMs as a cost-effective alternative to LiDAR, particularly in applications like trail running where precise elevation data is crucial. Our approach not only offers a substantial improvement in the accuracy of physical workload assessments but also enhances the accessibility of high-quality elevation data for broader geographical and environmental applications.