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How Mapping Companies Use Height Data

ryan-frank | Oct 13, 2009 |

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Mapping companies continue to stay on the forefront of technology by providing mapping programs with the most advanced and accurate data. Height data, also known as elevation data, is used by mapping companies to offer helpful as well as realistic modeling, including allowing mapping to venture into the realm of 3D.

There are many ways mapping companies use height data in order to offer valuable programs, applications, and software for our everyday lives. The following are just some ways we rely on height data and elevation maps today:

Land Development and City Growth

In the field of land surveying and analysis, it is important to have the most up-to-date and accurate height data available in order to assist with such undertakings as project planning, environmental services, flood modeling, disaster preparedness, and city development. Telecommunications has also relied on height data to analyze terrain for the improvement of mobile communication networks.

Consumer-Based Products and Services

Mapping software have become commonplace in our everydays lives with products such as GPS systems, and resources such as GoogleMaps, etc. These products and services use height data in order to provide the most up-to-date information for consumers. With GPS integrated phones, such as the iPhone, applications which use height data are at the palm of our hands. Virtual travel is also another way general consumers use height data. There is a whole world of 3D landmarks which are available when looking at height data.

Aviation

Aviation has become a field that relies heavily on height data. The most accurate height data is important for flight programs, such as collision avoidance systems, moving map displays, synthetic vision, and flight simulators, all of which contribute to a pilot's safety during flight.

Gathering Height Data

Mapping companies remain on the forefront of technology, constantly finding new ways to gather accurate height data. Here are some ways mapping companies have captured height data:

Land-Form Panorama
Land-Form Profile
High Resolution Satellite Imagery
Linda Data
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
Digital Photogrammetry

Height data has continued to allow mapping companies to offer valuable resources. And mapping companies are constantly finding new ways to integrate height data into their software in order to develop new interactive and advanced mapping for a better tomorrow.