Module r.skyview computes Sky-View Factor, a relief visualization technique. The value of each cell is given by the portion of visible sky (from that cell) limited by the surrounding relief. The values range from 0 to 1. The lighter the value is, the more open the terrain is.

We compute the sky-view factor map of the North Carolina sample dataset elevation map:

g.region raster=elevation
r.skyview input=elevation output=elevation_skyview ndir=8

• Zaksek K, Ostir K, Kokalj Z. Sky-View Factor as a Relief Visualization Technique. Remote Sensing. 2011; 3(2):398-415.

Anna Petrasova, NCSU OSGeoREL Modified by Steven Pawley to add multiprocessing

Last changed: $Date: 2015-10-15 10:24:20 -0600 (Thu, 15 Oct 2015) $