DTM vs. DEM: Key differences for teams working with spatial data
Blog post from Felt
Elevation data, crucial for applications ranging from flood modeling to urban planning, is represented through three primary models: Digital Terrain Model (DTM), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and Digital Surface Model (DSM). Each model serves a distinct purpose, with DTMs focusing solely on the bare-earth surface by excluding above-ground features, DEMs offering a general elevation grid that can represent either bare-earth or surface elevations, and DSMs capturing the topmost surface including buildings and vegetation. The choice among these models significantly impacts the accuracy of spatial analyses; for instance, using a DSM where a DTM is needed can lead to errors in flood modeling due to interference from surface features. The modern shift towards cloud-native GIS platforms, such as Felt, allows for efficient processing and analysis of large elevation datasets without the hardware limitations of local machines, facilitating collaboration and decision-making across various stakeholders in infrastructure, environmental, and urban planning projects.
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