| This paper explores some of the limitations of a technique proposed by Denis Dean (2005) that attempts to recreate cost surfaces suitable for minimum cost path analysis from existing paths. Because of their importance, this research focuses on the study of roads where a number of factors are evaluated for their impact on Dean’s model including terrain variety, road characteristics, and soil characteristics. These analyses are conducted using Monte Carlo simulation. Isotropic and anisotropic cost surface models are examined and important limitations are found for the general anisotropic case. Two methods for improving the performance of the anisotropic model for roads are explored. |
