Landscapeterrain

Landscapeterrain is the set of physical characteristics that define a landscape's surface. It encompasses topography, landforms, substrate, hydrology, and land cover, as well as the processes that shape and modify them over time. In geography, geomorphology, landscape architecture, and GIS, landscapeterrain is used to describe the spatial arrangement and interaction of terrain features across scales.

Key components include elevation, slope, aspect, relief, and landforms such as hills, valleys, ridges, and plateaus; the underlying geology and soils; surface water, drainage patterns, and soil moisture; and vegetation and built features. These elements influence how energy, water, and materials move across the surface and determine habitat, accessibility, and land use.

Digital representations of landscapeterrain rely on digital elevation models (DEMs) or digital terrain models (DTMs) for bare-earth surfaces, and digital surface models (DSMs) for surfaces including vegetation and structures. Derived products include slope, aspect, curvature, roughness, and landform classification, which support analyses of erosion, hydrology, microclimate, and stability.

Data sources include LiDAR, photogrammetry, satellite and radar imagery, and field surveys. Analysis is conducted in geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize, quantify, and model terrain characteristics, supporting planning, resource management, hazard assessment, and the creation of realistic virtual landscapes.

See also topography, geomorphology, landform, and digital elevation model.