page_title: Digital elevation model
section_title: Methods for obtaining elevation data used to create DEMs
hierarchical_section_title: Digital elevation model / Production / Methods for obtaining elevation data used to create DEMs
caption_attribution_description: English: Gatewing X100 UAS for mapping and surveying purposes
context_page_description: A digital elevation model is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain, commonly of a planet, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refers to a discrete global grid. DEMs are used often in geographic information systems, and are the most common basis for digitally produced relief maps.
  While a digital surface model may be useful for landscape modeling, city modeling and visualization applications, a digital terrain model is often required for flood or drainage modeling, land-use studies, geological applications, and other applications, and in planetary science.
context_section_description: Lidar
  Radar
  Stereo photogrammetry from aerial surveys
  Structure from motion / Multi-view stereo applied to aerial photography
  Block adjustment from optical satellite imagery
  Interferometry from radar data
  Real Time Kinematic GPS
  Topographic maps
  Theodolite or total station
  Doppler radar
  Focus variation
  Inertial surveys
  Surveying and mapping drones
  Range imaging
caption: Gatewing X100 unmanned aerial vehicle
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