Chapter 9-

Digital Terrain
Modeling
 Definitions
► Digital Terrain Modeling: concepts and techniques of
acquiring and using digital elevation data.

► Digital Terrain Data Sampling: structuring and acquisition of

digital terrain data by photogrammetric, cartographic, and
field survey techniques.

► Digital Terrain Data Processing: the manipulation of digital

terrain data to ensure their usability by GIS.

► Digital Terrain Data Analysis: involves the use of algorithms

and procedures that turn digital terrain data into useful
geographic information.

► Digital Terrain Visualization: Development of algorithums

and methods that will allow the effective display of the
terrain to assist in spatial problem solving and decision
making.
 DTM
► Theconcepts of DTM are no longer just
used for topography.

► Now used for climate, meteorology,

pollution, land cover, natural
resources, distribution of
socioeconomic variables.

► Common thread? It’s 3D continuous

surfaces.
Figure 9.1
 Approaches to Digital Terrain
Data Sampling
► Twobasic approaches: systematic and
adaptive.

► Systematic Sampling: Z-axis

measurements are measured at
regularly spaced intervals. One
example is a DEM

► Adaptive Sampling: Z-axis

measurements are made a selected
points that are assumed to be
Figure 9.2
 DEM or TIN?
► DEMsand TINs can be converted to one
another by well-established techniques.

► Which to use?
 The nature of the terrain. TIN is better for
complex terrains to capture local variations.
 Purpose of modeling. DEMs are easier to process
but less accurate.
 The needs of specific applications; i.e., shaded
relief maps work better with TINs
 The method of data acquisition. TIN approach
lends itself to field surveys while DEM to remote
sensing.
 Characteristics of a DEM
► Linear array of sampled Z-axis points.

► Spacing between profiles represents one dimension

of the spatial resolution.

► Three types of points in the grid:

 Regular Points
 First Points
 Corner Points

► Coordinates only stored for the first points along a

profile and the corner points
Figure 9.3
 Characteristics of the TIN
► Terrainis recorded as a continuous
surface made up of a mosaic of non-
overlapping triangular facets formed
by connecting selectively sampled
elevation points using a consistent
method of triangle construction.
Figure 9.6
Figure 9.7