What are the uses of Digital Elevation Model

Jul 04, 2023

Digital Elevation Model is a data set of plane coordinates (X, Y) and elevation (Z) of regular grid points within a certain range. It mainly describes the spatial distribution of regional geomorphology, and uses contour lines or similar three-dimensional models for data collection. Acquisition (including sampling and measurement), followed by data interpolation.

DEM is a solid ground model that expresses ground elevation in the form of a set of ordered numerical arrays. It is a branch of Digital Terrain Model (DTM), from which various other terrain characteristic values can be derived. It is generally believed that DTM describes the spatial distribution of various geomorphic factors including elevation, such as slope, slope aspect, slope change rate and other factors including linear and nonlinear combinations, and DEM is a zero-order simple single-item digital geomorphic model , other landform characteristics such as slope, aspect and slope change rate can be derived on the basis of DEM.

Because DEM describes ground elevation information, it has a wide range of applications in surveying and mapping, hydrology, meteorology, landform, geology, soil, engineering construction and other fields. In engineering construction, it can be used for earthwork calculation, visual analysis, etc.; in flood control and disaster reduction, DEM is the basis for hydrological analysis such as catchment area analysis, water system network analysis, rainfall analysis, flood storage calculation, inundation analysis, etc.; In wireless communication, it can be used for cell phone base station analysis and so on.