korkeustiedot

Korkeustiedot is a term used to refer to elevation data—the measurements and representations of the height of the Earth's surface. In geographic information systems, korkeustiedot are used to model terrain, support spatial analyses, and enable planning that depends on vertical dimensions.

Elevation data can be represented as point measurements or raster grids. Common formats include digital elevation models (DEMs) that describe bare-earth elevations, digital surface models (DSMs) that include vegetation and buildings, and digital terrain models (DTMs) derived from DSMs to represent bare ground. Data sets may vary in resolution and vertical accuracy depending on methods and sources.

Sources and methods for korkeustiedot include aerial LiDAR, photogrammetry from stereo or multi-view imagery, radar interferometry (InSAR), and satellite altimetry. Data are processed to align with a coordinate reference system and a vertical datum, ensuring consistency across datasets and regions.

Formats and access commonly involve GeoTIFF or other raster formats for grids, ASCII grid, and point clouds in LAS/LAZ. Elevation data may be provided as open data or licensed data through national or regional geospatial infrastructures. National mapping agencies and research organizations often publish official elevation datasets with defined accuracy standards.

Applications of korkeustiedot span urban planning, flood risk assessment, hydrological modeling, civil engineering, forestry, navigation, and 3D visualization. They are essential for terrain analysis, watershed delineation, and infrastructure design, as well as for recreations and simulations in virtual environments.

In Finland, korkeustiedot are typically part of the national spatial data infrastructure and maintained by public authorities and research institutions, supporting interoperability with international elevation datasets.