{easyREM} is an R package designed to simplify the creation of Relative Elevation Models (REMs). By utilizing Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and a specified region of interest, the package streamlines the process of generating and visualizing REMs.
The package is a collection of functions that simplify the retrieval and creation of Relative Elevation Models (REMs). REMs are a method for visualizing and analyzing elevation differences within a specific area. A more detailed explanation of REMs is provided in the vignette section of the package.
The package offers the following functionalities through its functions:
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Digital Elevation Model (DEM): The package retrieves DEM data from the USGS service, offering a resolution of 1 meter for North America and 30 meters for the rest of the world.
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River Lines: Shapefiles for river lines are obtained from two primary sources:
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OpenStreetMap (OSM) Data
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The HydroSHEDS Project.
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The interpolation method used in the package is the well-known Inverse-Distance Weighting (IDW) technique, which is based on research from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
The development of this project is a small contribution to the vast open-source software community. Facilitating scientific processes by sharing knowledge is a core principle of our society.
For a more detailed introduction to REMs, the methodology behind them, and further reading, please refer to this Article. It also serves as a guide to exploring the power of R Notebooks and the open-source R community.
You can install the development version of {easyREM} from GitHub
using the remotes package. Note that the package is not currently
available on CRAN. To install it, use the following code:
library(remotes)
remotes::install_github("emanuel-gf/easyREM")After installation, you just need to call the package. :)
The package was developt as part of Application Development Course, under the Z-GIS department of the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg. The package is under development and further features should take place at any moment.