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Topography

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696:. The DLSM can then be used to visualize terrain, drape remote sensing images, quantify ecological properties of a surface or extract land surface objects. The contour data or any other sampled elevation datasets are not a DLSM. A DLSM implies that elevation is available continuously at each location in the study area, i.e. that the map represents a complete surface. Digital Land Surface Models should not be confused with Digital Surface Models, which can be surfaces of the canopy, buildings and similar objects. For example, in the case of surface models produces using the lidar technology, one can have several surfaces – starting from the top of the canopy to the actual solid earth. The difference between the two surface models can then be used to derive volumetric measures (height of trees etc.). 794: 159: 866: 736: 174: 1413: 1425: 62: 978: 448: 809: 771:
Existing topographic survey maps, because of their comprehensive and encyclopedic coverage, form the basis for much derived topographic work. Digital Elevation Models, for example, have often been created not from new remote sensing data but from existing paper topographic maps. Many government and
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As with field notes, remote sensing data (aerial and satellite photography, for example), is raw and uninterpreted. It may contain holes (due to cloud cover for example) or inconsistencies (due to the timing of specific image captures). Most modern topographic mapping includes a large component of
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of the dataset are each assigned an elevation value, and a header portion of the dataset defines the area of coverage, the units each pixel covers, and the units of elevation (and the zero-point). DEMs may be derived from existing paper maps and survey data, or they may be generated from new
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Even though remote sensing has greatly sped up the process of gathering information, and has allowed greater accuracy control over long distances, the direct survey still provides the basic control points and framework for all topographic work, whether manual or
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after the family who produced them over four generations. The term "topographic surveys" appears to be American in origin. The earliest detailed surveys in the United States were made by the "Topographical Bureau of the Army", formed during the
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and analysis to be performed. Topological relationships between geometric entities traditionally include adjacency (what adjoins what), containment (what encloses what), and proximity (how close something is to something else).
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In mathematics the concept of topography is used to indicate the patterns or general organization of features on a map or as a term referring to the pattern in which variables (or their values) are distributed in a space.
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Besides their role in photogrammetry, aerial and satellite imagery can be used to identify and delineate terrain features and more general land-cover features. Certainly they have become more and more a part of
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In areas where there has been an extensive direct survey and mapping program (most of Europe and the Continental U.S., for example), the compiled data forms the basis of basic digital elevation datasets such as
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can exploit other information on the scene known a priori (for example, symmetries in certain cases allowing the rebuilding of three-dimensional co-ordinates starting from one only position of the camera).
685:, land surface is represented and modelled using gridded models. In civil engineering and entertainment businesses, the most representations of land surface employ some variant of TIN models. In 439:
There are a variety of approaches to studying topography. Which method(s) to use depends on the scale and size of the area under study, its accessibility, and the quality of existing surveys.
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anging), a remote sensing technique that uses a laser instead of radio waves, has increasingly been employed for complex mapping needs such as charting canopies and monitoring glaciers.
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images (or more) taken starting from different positions, usually from different passes of an aerial photography flight. In this technique, the common points are identified on each
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imaging can also help determine the lie of the land by delineating vegetation and other land-use information more clearly. Images can be in visible colours and in other spectrum.
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private publishers use the artwork (especially the contour lines) from existing topographic map sheets as the basis for their own specialized or updated topographic maps.
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Topographic survey information is historically based upon the notes of surveyors. They may derive naming and cultural information from other local sources (for example,
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may be made for a variety of reasons: military planning and geological exploration have been primary motivators to start survey programs, but detailed information about
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While not officially "topographic" maps, the national surveys of other nations share many of the same features, and so they are often called "topographic maps."
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data. This data must often be "cleaned" to eliminate discrepancies between surveys, but it still forms a valuable set of information for large-scale analysis.
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in 1878, the term topographical remained as a general term for detailed surveys and mapping programs, and has been adopted by most other nations as standard.
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mapping). While of historical interest, these field notes inherently include errors and contradictions that later stages in map production resolve.
1233: 356:, and this term was used into the 20th century as generic for topographic surveys and maps. The earliest scientific surveys in France were the 530:(or the British "Ordnance" surveys) involved not only recording of relief, but identification of landmark features and vegetative land cover. 1091: 689:, land surface is commonly modelled as a combination of the two signals – the smooth (spatially correlated) and the rough (noise) signal. 779:. The latter is concerned with underlying structures and processes to the surface, rather than with identifiable surface features. 392:
An objective of topography is to determine the position of any feature or more generally any point in terms of both a horizontal
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In practice, surveyors first sample heights in an area, then use these to produce a Digital Land Surface Model in the form of a
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mapping is one of the major techniques of generating Digital Elevation Models (see below). Similar techniques are applied in
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This article is about the study of Earth's surface shape and features. For discussion of land surfaces themselves, see
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In the 20th century, the term topography started to be used to describe surface description in other fields where
341:, "writing"). In classical literature this refers to writing about a place or places, what is now largely called ' 105: 1272: 243: 1202: 693: 674: 83: 878: 277: 112: 345:'. In Britain and in Europe in general, the word topography is still sometimes used in its original sense. 765:, built-up areas or individual buildings (depending on scale), and other features and points of interest. 909: 79: 50: 17: 616:) can be built from the camera location to the point on the object. It is the intersection of its rays ( 400:. Identifying (naming) features, and recognizing typical landform patterns are also part of the field. 189: 94: 1230: 1160: 958: 504: 207:. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or 357: 761:
These maps show not only the contours, but also any significant streams or other bodies of water,
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are experts in topography. They study and describe the surface features of a place or region.
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In its contemporary definition, topographic mapping shows relief. In the United States,
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contours, but also roads, populated places, structures, land boundaries, and so on.
1353: 1330: 1302: 882: 567: 428: 260:, the three-dimensional quality of the surface, and the identification of specific 1393: 1237: 1206: 1061: 840: 824: 730: 353: 1378: 1373: 1363: 1312: 1258: 947: 591: 544: 539: 311: 268:. In modern usage, this involves generation of elevation data in digital form ( 265: 163: 793: 547:
is a general term for geodata collection at a distance from the subject area.
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in a broader sense is used, particularly in medical fields such as
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and is concerned with local detail in general, including not only
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Work on one of the first topographic maps was begun in France by
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Topography in a narrow sense involves the recording of relief or
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is used as a technique for mapping the surface curvature of the
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in 1838. After the work of national mapping was assumed by the
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features such as roads, land boundaries, and buildings. In the
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to determine the terrain of the ocean floor. In recent years,
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of Earth without liquid water with 20× elevation exaggeration
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Topography has been applied to different science fields. In
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of an object are determined by the measurements made in two
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Charting the Inland Seas: A History of the U.S. Lake Survey
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reconstitute a sight in synthesized images of the ground,
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Photogrammetry is a measurement technique for which the
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Surveying helps determine accurately the terrestrial or
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discipline uses techniques such as EEG topography for
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determine a trajectory of overflight of the ground,
681:) mathematical models. In the most applications in 86:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 673:Terrain is commonly modelled either using vector ( 721:remotely sensed data in its compilation process. 1443: 775:Topographic mapping should not be confused with 1200:Topographical Engineers – History and Personnel 550: 628: 1266: 1086:West, Terry R.; Shakoor, Abdul (2018-03-19). 903: 782: 668: 1231:National Geographic Trails Illustrated Maps 1085: 1273: 1259: 411:and surface features is essential for the 203:is the study of the forms and features of 1116:"US Topo—Topographic Maps for the Nation" 1090:(2nd ed.). Waveland Press. pp.  472:position of points and the distances and 146:Learn how and when to remove this message 863: 807: 792: 734: 446: 172: 157: 859: 823:The digital elevation model (DEM) is a 14: 1444: 724: 715: 708:delineation may be derived from local 238:, topography often means specifically 1254: 1143:For example, see the websites of the 578:systems. False-color and non-visible 1229:See for example the publications of 972: 839:) of all or part of the Earth (or a 84:adding citations to reliable sources 55: 848:satellite or other remotely sensed 754:topographic maps show relief using 498:global navigation satellite systems 27:Study of the forms of land surfaces 24: 699: 25: 1473: 1173: 585: 533: 396:such as latitude, longitude, and 1423: 1412: 1411: 976: 507:, the great Italian astronomer. 367:Corps of Topographical Engineers 60: 968: 864: 442: 71:needs additional citations for 1223: 1211: 1193: 1167: 1153: 1137: 1125: 1108: 1088:Geology Applied to Engineering 1079: 896:calculate surfaces or volumes, 675:triangulated irregular network 302:Topographic map § History 184:illustrates topography of the 13: 1: 1072: 879:geographic information system 434: 387: 348:Detailed military surveys in 278:cartographic relief depiction 1149:London Topographical Society 551:Passive sensor methodologies 295: 7: 1132:Online Etymology Dictionary 1020: 910:Topography (disambiguation) 899:trace topographic profiles, 831:dataset of the topography ( 629:Active sensor methodologies 51:Topography (disambiguation) 10: 1478: 1220:, Arthur M. Woodford, 1991 1007: 907: 904:Topography in other fields 786: 783:Digital elevation modeling 728: 589: 554: 537: 457: 333: 323: 299: 190:New York metropolitan area 44: 29: 1407: 1349: 1326: 1288: 1280: 1161:Oxford English Dictionary 959:superficial human anatomy 669:Forms of topographic data 505:Giovanni Domenico Cassini 214:Topography is a field of 264:; this is also known as 30:Not to be confused with 1180:New York Public Library 1145:Victoria County History 1032:Digital elevation model 944:atomic force microscopy 799:Sierra Nevada Mountains 789:Digital elevation model 470:three-dimensional space 1336:History of cartography 1037:Fall line (topography) 874: 820: 805: 747: 683:environmental sciences 612:. A line of sight (or 526:The original American 500:(GNSS) are also used. 455: 371:U.S. Geological Survey 280:techniques, including 197: 170: 49:. For other uses, see 1341:List of cartographers 1121:. USGS. October 2013. 869: 811: 796: 738: 458:Further information: 451:A surveying point in 450: 176: 162:A topographic map of 161: 990:adding missing items 860:Topological modeling 677:or TIN) or gridded ( 478:leveling instruments 80:improve this article 1164:– "Ordnance Survey" 1047:Global Relief Model 725:Topographic mapping 716:Remote sensing data 528:topographic surveys 476:between them using 365:, which became the 1236:2006-11-16 at the 1205:2014-09-26 at the 988:; you can help by 940:tissue engineering 932:corneal topography 875: 821: 818:topography of Mars 812:3D rendering of a 806: 748: 745:elevation modeling 557:Aerial photography 456: 242:, even though the 230:, artificial, and 198: 171: 1439: 1438: 1174:Baena, Victoria. 1101:978-1-4786-3722-6 1057:Marine topography 1006: 1005: 600:of the points in 561:Satellite imagery 421:civil engineering 405:topographic study 394:coordinate system 314:and continued in 286:hypsometric tints 220:planetary science 156: 155: 148: 130: 16:(Redirected from 1469: 1427: 1415: 1414: 1354:Animated mapping 1331:Early world maps 1303:Geovisualization 1275: 1268: 1261: 1252: 1251: 1245: 1227: 1221: 1215: 1209: 1197: 1191: 1190: 1188: 1186: 1171: 1165: 1157: 1151: 1141: 1135: 1134:– etymonline.com 1129: 1123: 1122: 1120: 1112: 1106: 1105: 1083: 1001: 998: 980: 979: 973: 957:, topography is 868: 777:geologic mapping 568:geovisualization 354:Ordnance Surveys 336: 335: 326: 325: 276:by a variety of 249:record not just 247:topographic maps 151: 144: 140: 137: 131: 129: 88: 64: 56: 21: 1477: 1476: 1472: 1471: 1470: 1468: 1467: 1466: 1442: 1441: 1440: 1435: 1403: 1394:Topographic map 1345: 1322: 1284: 1279: 1249: 1248: 1238:Wayback Machine 1228: 1224: 1216: 1212: 1207:Wayback Machine 1198: 1194: 1184: 1182: 1172: 1168: 1158: 1154: 1142: 1138: 1130: 1126: 1118: 1114: 1113: 1109: 1102: 1084: 1080: 1075: 1062:Topographic map 1023: 1012: 1008:Main category: 1002: 996: 993: 977: 971: 946:is used to map 912: 906: 862: 841:telluric planet 791: 785: 733: 731:Topographic map 727: 718: 702: 700:Raw survey data 671: 631: 594: 588: 563: 555:Main articles: 553: 542: 536: 466: 445: 437: 390: 331:, "place") and 304: 298: 182:satellite image 152: 141: 135: 132: 89: 87: 77: 65: 54: 43: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1475: 1465: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1437: 1436: 1434: 1433: 1421: 1408: 1405: 1404: 1402: 1401: 1396: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1379:Nautical chart 1376: 1374:Linguistic map 1371: 1366: 1364:Choropleth map 1361: 1356: 1350: 1347: 1346: 1344: 1343: 1338: 1333: 1327: 1324: 1323: 1321: 1320: 1315: 1313:Map projection 1310: 1305: 1300: 1295: 1289: 1286: 1285: 1278: 1277: 1270: 1263: 1255: 1247: 1246: 1222: 1210: 1192: 1166: 1152: 1136: 1124: 1107: 1100: 1077: 1076: 1074: 1071: 1070: 1069: 1064: 1059: 1054: 1049: 1044: 1039: 1034: 1029: 1022: 1019: 1004: 1003: 983: 981: 970: 967: 948:nanotopography 908:Main article: 905: 902: 901: 900: 897: 894: 891: 861: 858: 787:Main article: 784: 781: 729:Main article: 726: 723: 717: 714: 701: 698: 670: 667: 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The 835:and/or 829:digital 827:-based 580:spectra 464:Geodesy 453:Germany 409:terrain 378:mapping 350:Britain 334:-γραφία 258:terrain 228:natural 192:, with 188:of the 120:scholar 47:Terrain 1098:  936:cornea 918:, the 856:data. 845:pixels 825:raster 743:using 741:Europe 474:angles 288:, and 240:relief 224:relief 122:  115:  108:  101:  93:  1282:Atlas 1119:(PDF) 938:. In 926:. In 854:sonar 850:radar 803:Spain 647:LIDAR 643:sonar 635:RADAR 610:image 427:, or 329:topos 324:τόπος 320:Greek 177:This 166:with 127:JSTOR 113:books 38:, or 1240:and 1187:2024 1147:and 1096:ISBN 752:USGS 653:ght 572:maps 559:and 488:and 462:and 415:and 244:USGS 218:and 99:news 1308:Map 1092:545 992:. 953:In 852:or 814:DEM 694:TIN 661:nd 614:ray 576:GIS 574:or 513:GIS 494:GPS 274:map 270:DEM 82:by 1448:: 1178:. 1094:. 961:. 950:. 942:, 930:, 877:A 801:, 651:LI 602:3D 492:. 484:, 423:, 403:A 384:. 292:. 284:, 34:, 1274:e 1267:t 1260:v 1189:. 1104:. 999:) 995:( 663:R 659:A 655:D 649:( 337:( 327:( 149:) 143:( 138:) 134:( 124:· 117:· 110:· 103:· 76:. 53:. 42:. 20:)

Index

Topographic
topology
typography
tomography
Terrain
Topography (disambiguation)

verification
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"Topography"
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Stowe, Vermont
contour lines

false-color
satellite image
urban core
New York metropolitan area
Manhattan
land surfaces
depiction
geoscience
planetary science

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