GIS5935: Module 4 - TINs and DEMs

 

In this week's lab, we created 3d visualizations of elevation models and compared TINs and DEMs. The TIN followed the original elevation points exactly, resulting in boxy contours that reflected this. In contrast, the DEM produced smoother contours that generalized the original elevation points. The DEM is better for visualization, but doesn't reflect the raw data. The differences between the two models were most noticeable in steeper areas and terrain. The TIN showed sharp bends in the contours while the DEM smoothed them out. In flatter areas, the two models were almost identical. This comparison shows the tradeoffs between the two sets of models.