TransCAD

Surface Analysis Tools

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 Digital Elevation Models (DEM)
 A Digital Elevation Mode (DEM) is a specialized
database that represents the relief of a surface between
points of known elevation. Similar to other geographic
data sets, DEMs are referenced to a known coordinate
system. The coordinate values are stored as degrees of
longitude and latitude.
 Creation of a DEM begins with the capture of an
irregular array of elevations. These points, commonly
referred to as the “original observations,” are used as
input to an interpolation routine that will approximate
the nature of the surface between sample points.
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 Digital Elevation Models (DEM)
 Original elevation observations may be derived from any
one or a combination of sources such as ground surveys,
photogrammetric data capture, and cartographic data
sources. The process of interpolation typically results in the
creation of one of two commonly used DEM data
structures: a rectangular grid of elevations, or a triangulated
irregular network (TIN).
 Rectangular grids provide a simple data structure in which
data values are interpolated to create an evenly spaced grid
across a geographic region. Rectangular grids can be stored
in a grid geographic file and displayed as a grid layer.

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 Grid Layers
 A grid layer stores a set of values for a regular array of cells; the
cells are usually square. Grid layers are another type of may layer
that TransCAD can use, in addition to point layers, for surface
analysis and 3D maps. Grid layers allow you to store any regular
array of values. A common type of grid layer is a digital elevation
model with regularly-spaced heights for a surface.
 A grid layer is stored in a grid geographic file. A grid geographic
file stores just a value for each cell in the grid. The coordinates of
the corners of the grid cells do not need to be stored, because they
can be computed from the origin of the grid and the height and
width of each cell, which are also stored in the grid geographic
file.

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 Preparing for Surface Analysis
 To analyze a surface based on a point layer,
TransCAD must create the triangulated irregular
network (TIN). TransCAD can support multiple
levels of interpolation during the creation of a TIN
to smooth contour lines during contour generation.
 Interpolation creates new “height” values between
sample points. Level 0 does no contour
smoothing, while levels 1, 2, and 3 provide
increasing levels of interpolation and smoothing.

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To Prepare for Surface Analysis
Using a Point Layer

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 To Calculate a Spot Elevation

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 To Create a Profile Drawing

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To Do Visibility Analysis from a
TIN

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 To Generate Contours from a
TIN

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 To Show 3D Terrain

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 To Create a Rectangular Grid
DEM from a TIN

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 Creating an Area Geographic File
from a TIN
 A triangulated irregular network (TIN) is a transient
data structure that is created “in the background” to
support surface analysis. When you close the Surface
Analysis toolbox the TIN is deleted. TransCAD allows
you to save the TIN as triangular facets in an area
geographic file and to display the TIN as a map layer.
 In addition, TransCAD generates a data table that
stores the gradient and aspect of each facet in the TIN.
Aspect is defined according to the diagram to the right,
and describes the compass direction that a effective
themes that illustrate the characteristics of a surface.
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 To Create an Area Geographic
File from a TIN

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 To Create a 3D Map

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