elevationthat

Elevationthat is a term used in geographic information systems and digital cartography to describe a context-sensitive approach to representing terrain elevation. The concept refers to adjusting how elevation is portrayed in maps and 3D visualizations based on surrounding topography rather than applying a single global scale.

Etymology and history: The word blends "elevation" with the demonstrative "that" to signal emphasis on a specific feature or locale. The earliest known discussions appear in informal GIS forums in the early 2020s; it has not been adopted as a formal standard.

Definition and scope: Elevationthat encompasses techniques for adaptive vertical exaggeration, where the vertical scale is modulated spatially to enhance perceptual separation of features like ridges and valleys. It differs from uniform vertical exaggeration by reacting to local relief and feature prominence.

Methods: Implementations commonly rely on local relief metrics such as local relief, relief intensity, or slope variance to determine exaggeration factor as a function of location. Software workflows may combine digital elevation models with hillshade and contour intervals to produce a representation that preserves relative elevations while minimizing distortion in flat areas.

Applications and limitations: Used in educational visuals, landscape planning, and outdoor recreation maps to improve readability. Criticism centers on the lack of a standardized definition and potential for misinterpretation or inconsistency across datasets.

See also: vertical exaggeration, hillshade, digital elevation model, topographic visualization.