DEM (Digital Elevation Model)

A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a digital representation of the Earth's surface elevations. It is like a detailed 3D map that shows the height of terrain features such as hills, valleys, and mountains across a specific area. DEMs are created using various data sources like satellite images, aerial surveys, or LIDAR. They are widely used in geography, environmental studies, urban planning, and navigation to analyze landforms, model water flow, assess flood risk, and support infrastructure development. Essentially, a DEM helps us understand the topography of a region in a precise and measurable way.