Microdem

View of Pikes Peak from UCCS

 

Microdem Tutorial Questions

1. Digital Elevation Models (DEM’s) give you a quick view of elevation and topography of whatever location or landform you want to study.  It gives you the opportunity to look at an area from several perspectives.  You can get an overall view of an area or a very close up view.  Knowing elevation, aspect, and slope are key in studying many things such as erosion and plant communities.
2. DEM’s are limited by just looking at elevation and topography. It is just part of the picture.  Also, the operator has the ability to affect the appearance and perhaps skew realty. 
3. I would not consider DEM’s a GIS software.  I view them as a data layer that can be used with a GIS software.  A GIS software can combine several data layers including digital elevation models to create more useful information.

 

 

Three View of Black Mountain, South Park Colorado