CHAPTER SEVEN

DIGITAL
TERRAIN
MODELLING
By Eyob A.(Msc) Mwu CoE Seng Dep’t
 Introduction

Digital Terrain Modeling involves the creation of a digital

representation of the Earth's surface, capturing its elevation
variations and topographic features in a spatially referenced
format.
This representation is typically achieved through the
acquisition and processing of elevation data obtained from
various sources, including.
 Ground survey measurements.
Satellite Imagery,
Aerial photography,
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
 Definitions of terminologies of Digital Terrain
Modelling

Digital Terrain Modeling (DTM) encompasses various terms and

concepts essential to understand the process of creating digital
representations of the Earth's surface.
Here's a breakdown of key terminologies used in DTM.
Elevation Data,
Digital Elevation Model (DEM),
Digital Surface Model (DSM),
Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN),
Interpolation,
Grid-based Model,
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging),
 Contour Lines, Slope , Aspect, Watershed, and Viewshed
Analysis
 Terminologies Cont’d…

Elevation Data: It represents the height of the Earth's surface at

specific locations represented as points (x,y,z).
It can be obtained from various sources, including satellite imagery,
LiDAR surveys, aerial photography, and ground-based
measurements.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM): A Digital Elevation Model is a
digital representation of the bare earth surface, where each pixel or
grid cell contains an elevation value.
 Terminologies Cont’d…

Digital Surface Model (DSM): A Digital Surface Model represents

the Earth's surface including all above-ground features such as
buildings, vegetation, and infrastructure. DSMs provide a more
comprehensive view of the terrain compared to DEMs.
Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN): TIN is a method used to
represent terrain in DTM, where the terrain surface is divided into
irregularly spaced triangles.
Each triangle is defined by three vertices, and elevation values are
interpolated within the triangles to create a continuous surface.
 Terminologies Cont’d…

Grid-based Model: Grid-based models divide the terrain into regularly

spaced grid cells, with each cell containing an elevation value. DEMs and
DSMs are examples of grid-based models used in DTM.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): LiDAR is a remote sensing
technology that uses laser pulses to measure the distance between the
sensor and the Earth's surface.
LiDAR data is commonly used in DTM due to its high accuracy and
resolution.
 Terminologies Cont’d…

Contour Lines: Contour lines are lines drawn on a map connecting points
of equal elevation.
They provide a visual representation of the terrain's shape and elevation
changes.
Slope: Slope refers to the steepness of the terrain surface and is calculated
as the rate of change in elevation over a given horizontal distance.
Slope analysis is used to identify areas of varying terrain steepness.
Aspect: Aspect describes the orientation or direction in which a slope face.
It is typically measured in degrees clockwise from north and provides
information about the direction of slope exposure.
 Terminologies Cont’d…

 Watershed: A watershed is an area of land where all the

water drains to a common outlet, such as a streams, river or
lake.

 DTM is used to delineate watersheds and analyze the flow

of water across the terrain surface.
 Viewshed Analysis: Viewshed analysis is a spatial
analysis technique used to determine the areas visible from
a specific location on the terrain surface.
 It helps identify visibility and line-of-sight constraints in a
given landscape
 Acquisition of digital Terrain model

Three common methods of

acquiring DTM data are:

1. Ground surveying

2. Satellite Imagery

3. Aerial photograph
 1. Ground survey measurements.

Ground surveying techniques involve the use of instruments such as

total stations, GPS (Global Positioning System), GNSS (Global
Navigation Satellite System) receivers, LiDAR (Light Detection and
Ranging), and traditional leveling equipment.
These instruments measure elevation directly or indirectly by
triangulating positions or by measuring the time taken for laser pulses
to reflect off surfaces.
Ground survey measurements play a crucial role in obtaining Digital
Elevation Models (DEMs), especially in areas where satellite data
may not be sufficient due to factors such as cloud cover or
insufficient resolution.
 2. Satellite Imagery
Here are some of the key satellites that have been instrumental in providing
data for DEM generation:
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM): Launched in 2000, SRTM
was a joint mission between NASA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency (NGA), and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It used a radar
instrument to collect elevation data, producing one of the most
comprehensive global DEM datasets with a resolution of around 30 meters.
Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer
(ASTER): ASTER is an imaging instrument onboard the Terra satellite,
part of NASA's Earth Observing System. While primarily designed for
high-resolution imaging, ASTER also collects stereo imagery used for
generating DEMs at a resolution of 30 meters.
 Satellite Imagery cont’d…
Terra-SAR-X: A German Earth-observation satellite launched
in 2007.
TerraSAR-X uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to acquire
high-resolution elevation data.
 Its data is used for DEM generation as well as various other
applications like terrain mapping and monitoring land surface
changes.
WorldView-3: WorldView-3 is a high-resolution commercial
imaging satellite.
While its primary function is capturing optical imagery, it can
also be used for stereo imaging, contributing to DEM creation at
resolutions as fine as 0.3 meters.
 cont’d…

Cartosat Series: Developed by the Indian Space Research

Organization (ISRO), the Cartosat series of satellites are
equipped with panchromatic and multispectral cameras. They
are primarily used for cartographic applications including DEM
generation, land use mapping, and urban planning.
TanDEM-X: A German satellite mission launched in 2010,
TanDEM-X operates in tandem with TerraSAR-X to create a
global DEM dataset with unprecedented accuracy. Using SAR
interferometry, TanDEM-X produces DEMs with a resolution
of 12 meters.
 Satellites providing grided DEM image

SRTM ASTER Terra-SAR-X:

WorldView-3 Cartosat Series

TanDEM-X:

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 3. Aerial photography

Aerial photography is commonly used to create orthophotos,

which are geometrically corrected images that have been
adjusted to remove distortions caused by terrain relief, camera
tilt, and other factors.
Orthophotos serve as an accurate representation of the Earth's
surface and can be used as a base for DEM creation.
Aerial photography can provide very high-resolution imagery,
allowing for detailed analysis of terrain features.
This high resolution is particularly useful for generating
accurate DEMs, especially in areas with complex topography
or small-scale features.
 Steps of Digital Terrain Modeling

Digital Terrain Modeling typically involves the

following steps:
1. Data Acquisition
2. Data Processing
3. Surface Modeling
4. Analysis and Visualization

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 1. Data Acquisition

In Data Acquisition step, elevation data is collected

from various sources, including satellite imagery, aerial
photography, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
surveys, and ground-based measurements.
These data sources provide information on the
elevation of the Earth's surface at discrete points or
within small areas.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 2. Data Processing

Once acquired, the elevation data undergoes preprocessing

to remove errors, outliers, and inconsistencies.
This may involve filtering, interpolation, and smoothing
techniques to improve data quality and accuracy.
Image Correction, Georeferencing, and Mosaicking the
most important preprocessing techniques applied to correct
image acquired from remote sensing.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 3. Surface Modeling

DTM employs various modeling

techniques to represent the terrain surface
digitally.
One common method is the Triangulated
Irregular Network (TIN), which constructs
a network of irregularly spaced triangles
based on elevation data points.
Another approach involves grid-based
models such as Digital Elevation Models
(DEMs) and Digital Surface Models
(DSMs), which divide the terrain into
regularly spaced grid cells with elevation
By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t
values assigned to each cell.
 4. Analysis and Visualization

Once the digital terrain model is created, it can be

analyzed and visualized to derive valuable insights
about the terrain characteristics.
This may include slope analysis, aspect analysis,
visibility(viewshed) analysis, watershed delineation,
and more.
Visualization techniques such as contour maps, hill
shading, and 3D renderings are commonly used to
represent the terrain in a visually appealing and
informative manner.
By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t
 Slope and Aspect

Slope represents the steepness of the terrain at each

point and is typically measured in degrees or as a
percentage.
It's calculated as the rate of change of elevation (rise)
over the distance (run) between neighboring cells in the
DEM.
Slope is often reported in degrees (0° is flat, 90° is
vertical)

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

Slope and Aspect

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 Aspect Calculation

Aspect describes the direction that the slope faces and is typically
measured in degrees clockwise from north (0 to 360).
It indicates the compass direction of the steepest downward slope
from each cell.
The formula for calculating aspect is:
Aspect = tan-1[ -(ΔZ/Δy)/(ΔZ/Δx)
where Δx and Δy represent the change in horizontal distance and
ΔZ elevation between neighboring cells.
The aspect angle is then adjusted to ensure it falls within the range
of 0 to 360 degrees.
Additionally, in some implementations, aspect may be reported in
cardinal directions (e.g., N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) instead of
degrees. By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t
 Aspect in ArcGIS 10.8
24

Lecture 11
 Viewshed analysis

Viewshed analysis in GIS is a spatial analysis technique

used to determine visible areas or visibility from a specific
location or set of locations.
 It helps identify what areas are visible or hidden from an
observer's point of view.
This analysis is valuable in various fields such as urban
planning, military operations, environmental management,
and site selection.
Here's how you can perform viewshed analysis in GIS.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 Application of DTM

Hydrological Modeling: DTM is crucial for hydrological

modeling applications, such as watershed delineation,
flood mapping, and drainage analysis.
By accurately representing terrain elevations and slope
characteristics, DTM enables the simulation of surface
water flow and the identification of potential flood risk
areas.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 Application of DTM

Urban Planning and Infrastructure Development: DTM

plays a vital role in urban planning and infrastructure
development projects by providing valuable information
on terrain morphology, land suitability, and infrastructure
planning.
DTM-derived elevation models aid in site selection, slope
analysis, viewshed analysis, and visualization of urban
landscapes.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 Application of DTM

Natural Resource Management: DTM is instrumental in

natural resource management applications, including
forestry, agriculture, and environmental conservation.
Elevation data derived from DTM facilitates terrain
analysis, habitat modeling, soil erosion prediction, and
precision agriculture practices, enabling sustainable
management of natural resources.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

 Application of DTM

Emergency Management and Disaster Response: DTM

supports emergency management and disaster response
efforts by providing accurate terrain information for
hazard mapping, evacuation planning, and search and
rescue operations.
DTM-derived elevation models assist in identifying
vulnerable areas, assessing terrain accessibility, and
prioritizing response efforts during disasters.

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t

THE END

ANY QOESTION

By: Eyob A.(Msc) CoE Seng Dep’t