CHANGE DETECTION

Terrain Change Detection Software

STREAM's terrain change detection software compares two surveys and reports what changed between them — where material was added or removed, the net volume with an uncertainty band, and only the change that is statistically significant. Ideal for tracking mining, earthworks and erosion over time.

What is change detection?

Change detection measures the difference between two elevation surfaces captured at different times. Beyond a raw difference map, a rigorous result reports volume with an uncertainty band and filters out change smaller than the survey noise.

STREAM uses a level-of-detection threshold (LoD) and optional co-registration to correct systematic shift between the two datasets, so the reported change is trustworthy.

This process — often called a DEM of Difference (DoD) — is the standard method for quantifying surface change between repeat topographic surveys.

Change Detection Software in STREAM

Deposition & erosion

See where material was added (deposition) and removed (erosion) as a clear color map between two scenarios.

Volume ± uncertainty

Get net cut/fill volume with an uncertainty band, not just a single unqualified number.

Level of detection (LoD)

Choose a confidence level so only change larger than the survey noise is kept as significant.

Co-registration & reports

Correct systematic vertical shift between datasets, and export a PDF report plus raster/vector change layers.

Where teams use it

Stockpile volume reconciliation at mine sites, quarry and pit production tracking, earthworks and construction progress verification, and coastal or riverbank erosion monitoring over time.

How to detect change between two surveys

  1. 1

    Load both surveys

    Bring in the earlier and the later terrain model. Each is kept as its own scenario, so the old model is never overwritten.

  2. 2

    Check they share a datum

    Both surfaces must be in the same coordinate system and vertical datum, otherwise the difference measures the misalignment instead of the change.

  3. 3

    Set the scope

    Draw or select the area being compared — a pit, a stockpile yard, a river bank.

  4. 4

    Set the detection threshold

    Enter the level below which a difference is treated as survey noise rather than real movement.

  5. 5

    Read and export

    Gain and loss appear as a coloured map with net volume; save the map as a raster and take the figures into the PDF report.

Supported formats

GeoTIFF
Source DEMs from both surveys, and the exported change raster
DXF
Change layers exported as vector
PDF
Change detection report

Watch it

STREAM Split View — Compare Two Terrain Scenarios Side by Side

Frequently asked questions

How does STREAM detect change?

It compares two terrain scenarios and reports deposition, erosion and net volume with an uncertainty band, keeping only change above a level-of-detection threshold.

What is level of detection (LoD)?

LoD is a confidence threshold: change smaller than the combined survey noise is filtered out, so only statistically significant change is reported.

Can STREAM correct alignment between two surveys?

Yes. Optional co-registration removes systematic vertical shift (and tilt) between the two datasets before computing change.

Try Change Detection in STREAM

Free beta for Windows x64. Works fully offline with GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ and DXF.

Download STREAM free