Analysis of a complex tectonic scenario based on 2D discrete wavelet analysis

Processing of digital elevation models is a hot issue for identifying tectonics features of an area. Medium resolution digital elevation models are interesting for analyzing topographic anomalies that may be related to regional phenomena, like ongoing or past tectonic processes. In order to perform this, the identification of these features from elevation models is the key issue. An effective approach is 2D discrete wavelet transforms. These perform a multi-scale decomposition, capable of giving numerically based evidence to details from digital elevation models, which sometimes may be concealed or unclear. These details can be associated to anomalies or singularities of the topography, possibly related to regional tectonic processes or, more in general, to landscape evolution phenomena, i.e. big landslides, erosion, etc.. Thus this can be an effective approach to territorial analysis.