Elevationeg

Elevationeg is a term used in geospatial visualization to denote the vertical exaggeration applied to terrain models when rendering three-dimensional representations. The name combines elevation with eg, commonly interpreted as exaggeration, and it appears in discussions of how elevation data are scaled for display.

In practice, elevationeg is implemented by multiplying the terrain’s elevation values by a factor E before projection and shading are applied. An elevationeg of 1.0 preserves true vertical scale; values greater than 1.0 exaggerate relief, increasing the apparent height differences, while values between 0 and 1.0 reduce vertical emphasis and produce a flatter appearance. This scaling affects perceived slope, terrain roughness, and the readability of features such as ridges and valleys.

Applications of elevationeg span educational cartography, 3D city and terrain models, and virtual reality simulations. It is often used to enhance the visual legibility of landscapes with subtle relief or to fit terrain within a particular display scale. Practitioners must consider the potential for misinterpretation, as higher elevationeg values can distort true elevations and distances.

Relation to other concepts is close to vertical exaggeration, a standard term in cartography. Elevationeg is discussed in contexts where authors seek a compact, alias-free label for the same underlying idea. See also: vertical exaggeration, digital elevation model, geovisualization, relief shading.