How to Use Python to Create and Analyze DEM Surfaces

The Essential Surface Tools in Python for DEM — Part 1

Surface Analysis of DEM — Image by the Author.

Surface analysis is a set of techniques to extract information about a terrain's surface. It can be used for various purposes, such as Natural Resource Management, Transportation Planning and Environmental Monitoring.

In this article, we will use Python to perform surface analysis of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Before jumping into the code, let us explain what surface analysis techniques exist.

Surface Analysis Techniques

Several different techniques can be used to extract information about a terrain's surface for surface analysis, including:

• Slope: Slope is a measure of the steepness of a surface. It is calculated by measuring the change in elevation over a specific distance.
• Aspect: Aspect measures the direction in which a surface faces. It is calculated by measuring the direction of the steepest slope.
• Hillshade: Hillshade is a measure of the amount of sunlight that a surface receives. It is calculated by considering the sun's position in the sky, the surface's slope, and the surface's aspect.
• Curvature: Curvature measures the degree to which a surface is curved…