Comparison of IDW and Spline Interpolation for Topographic Accuracy Assessment Using Geomatics Approaches

Authors

  • Khalid Qaraghuli Al-Mussaib Technical Institute, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, 51006, Babil, Iraq
  • Basheer S. Jasim Technical Institute of Babylon, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Iraq
  • Mohamad Fared Murshed School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
  • Tayser Sumer Gaaz Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics Engineering, College of Engineering and Technologies, Al-Mustaqbal University, Babylon, Iraq
Volume: 15 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 27376-27381 | October 2025 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.12973

Received: 26 June 2025 | Revised: 9 July 2025 and 28 July 2025 | Accepted: 1 August 2025 | Online: 18 August 2025


Corresponding author: Khalid Qaraghuli

Abstract

The advancement of computer and software technologies has facilitated the widespread adoption of spatial analysis, particularly Geographic Information Systems (GIS), representing one of the most transformative developments in modern cartographic applications. GIS capture the geographical and non-geographical data in a way that allows for visual interpretation and analysis. In the present work, the study area of Al-Mada'in is examined along with the topographic surface accuracies obtained by the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) and Spline methods, based on the sampling points’ number (40) and the grid size of 30 m. This study compares different interpolation algorithms using their respective prediction mean errors, prediction Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Standard Deviation (STD). The IDW method showed a maximum elevation value of 48.332 m and a minimum of 39.028 m with a mean of 44.265 m, an STD of 2.512 m, and an RMSE of 1.585 m. In contrast, the Spline method achieved a higher accuracy, recording a maximum value of 47.934 m and a minimum value of 39.453 m. It also achieved a mean value of 44.339 m, an STD of 2.345 m, and a lower RMSE of 1.531 m. According to the experimental findings on biased and normalized data, Spline outperformed the IDW approach as it demonstrated a more accurate and superior interpolation inside the sample space.

Keywords:

inverse distance weighted, spline, topographic surfaces, terrain modeling, interpolation

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How to Cite

[1]
K. Qaraghuli, B. S. Jasim, M. F. Murshed, and T. S. Gaaz, “Comparison of IDW and Spline Interpolation for Topographic Accuracy Assessment Using Geomatics Approaches”, Eng. Technol. Appl. Sci. Res., vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 27376–27381, Oct. 2025.

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Copyright (c) 2025 Khalid Qaraghuli, Basheer S. Jasim, Mohamad Fared Murshed, Tayser Sumer Gaaz

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