GCD

The GCD software was developed primarily for topographic change detection in rivers, but will work for simple, raster-based change detection of any two surfaces. The volumetric change in storage is calculated from the difference in surface elevations from digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from repeat topographic surveys.

GCD is part of the Riverscapes Consortium's much larger family of tools for analyzing riverscapes. GCD is the Riverscapes Consortium's longest-standing, best developed software with the largest user base. GCD has users all over the world.

Discover GCD Data

Search the Riverscapes Data Exchange for GCD Projects and related data.

Connect With the GCD Community

Learn about GCD events and participate in GCD user forums.

Animated GCD results produced by Prof. James Brasington of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, illustrating changes on the Waiho River, New Zealand.

Citation

If you use the GCD Software, please cite the following publication:

Phlip Bailey, Joseph Wheaton, Matt Reimer, & James Brasington. (2020). Geomorphic Change Detection Software (7.5.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7248344

GCD Research

The methodological development is described in (Wheaton et al., 2010a), the Wheaton (2008) thesis, and the Wheaton et al. (2010b) RRA paper. The Matlab version of the code (DoD 3) is provided as supplemental information with the ESPL paper so that readers can test or extend the code as they see fit for their purposes. Check out GCD ResearchGate Project for Publications.

What's Next for GCD

GCD 7 is always in development. How active that development is depends on our funding levels. We post our wish list of enhancements on our GCD GitHub Repository. If you have ideas of your own then please suggest and enhancecment, or would like to support these efforts please consider donating.

Note on Terminology

DoD is an acronym for DEM (digital elevation model) of Difference (not Department of Defense). DoDs are derived from repeat topographic surveys and used in change detection studies and morphological sediment budgeting. We use GCD to mean geomorphic change detection, not Glen Canyon Dam.