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I'm using a DTM retrieved from LiDAR data and I noticed that forested areas are grainy or not defined. The DTM data was retrieved from geostore.com. Here is one example:

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Is there any way to directly improve the DTM file; or do we need the raw LiDAR data (las files) in order to rebuild the DTM and get better results?

Here is the same location viewed from a satellite image.

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And here is an attempt of DTM made from a DSM in SAGA:

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Note that I don't want to smooth the DTM as I do archaeological surveys and any smoothing of the surface would hide the barely visible features.

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It is not possible to directly improve the DTM without carrying out some sort of smoothing or interpolation. Auxiliary data is needed or the DTM needs to be rebuilt.

To improve the assigned values of elevation in the part covered by forest, return to the raw LiDAR data and test alternative ways to classify ground points and generate a new DTM. For example:

Determining bare earth DEM from unclassified LAS file?

If there is not a satisfactory method to improve the results, you will probably need data with higher resolution in such parts of the terrain. It is like you said:

I get similar results when working with Slovenia LiDAR las data in areas where they scanned 2 points per square meter. In other areas where it is 5 points per square meter DTM is good even in heavily forested areas.

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You need to download the DSM pointclouds instead of DTMs. Please see here the differences: What is the difference between DEM, DSM and DTM? enter image description here

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  • I have tried with DSM and i get slightly better result, but still not good. I get similar results when working with Slovenia LiDAR las data in areas where they scanned 2 points a square meter. In other areas where it is 5 points per square meter DTM is good even in heavy forested areas.
    – Jost Hobic
    Commented May 13, 2016 at 13:54
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    The term 'DSM' or 'DTM' pointcloud is misleading as pointclouds are neither. Better terms would be 'ground returns only' (to generate a DTM from) or 'canopy returns only' (to generate a DSM from).
    – danclewley
    Commented Aug 19, 2016 at 5:49

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