page_title: Digital elevation model
section_title: Uses
hierarchical_section_title: Digital elevation model / Uses
caption_attribution_description: English: Digital Surface Model of motorway construction site obtained from aerial photoset using Pteryx UAV
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: Common uses of DEMs include:
  Extracting terrain parameters for geomorphology
  Modeling water flow for hydrology or mass movement (for example avalanches and landslides)
  Modeling soils wetness with Cartographic Depth to Water Indexes (DTW-index)
  Creation of relief maps
  Rendering of 3D visualizations.
  3D flight planning and TERCOM
  Creation of physical models (including raised relief maps)
  Rectification of aerial photography or satellite imagery
  Reduction (terrain correction) of gravity measurements (gravimetry, physical geodesy)
  Terrain analysis in geomorphology and physical geography
  Geographic information systems (GIS)
  Engineering and infrastructure design
  Satellite navigation (for example GPS and GLONASS)
  Line-of-sight analysis
  Base mapping
  Flight simulation
  Precision farming and forestry
  Surface analysis
  Intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
  Auto safety / advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)
  Archaeology
caption: Digital Surface Model of motorway interchange construction site. Note that tunnels are closed.
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