contoursinform
Contoursinform is a framework and data model for encoding, linking, and disseminating contour-based information about natural and built environments. It integrates conventional contour lines with semantic metadata to describe elevation, slope, aspect, land cover, hydrology, and temporal changes. The goal is to improve the discoverability and interoperability of contour data across geographic information systems (GIS), 3D visualization tools, and planning workflows.
The contoursinform model treats contour data as an information layer composed of geometry, attributes, and references
Origins and development: The concept emerged in the early 2020s within the cartography and GIS research community
Applications and use cases include environmental planning, flood risk modeling, transportation and urban design, and terrain-based
Limitations and considerations involve the need for standardization of vocabularies and licensing to realize cross-platform reuse,