planimetrische

Planimetrische is used in Dutch and German contexts as the equivalent of the English “planimetric.” It describes measurements and representations that concern only the horizontal plane, with coordinates x and y, and do not include elevation.

In cartography, surveying, architecture and GIS, planimetry involves determining the positions of features on a flat, two-dimensional plane, projecting real-world positions onto a reference plane. The data represent x and y coordinates; elevation is not included.

Historically, planimetry relied on planimeters to measure areas on maps, but it is now common in digital GIS layers enabling 2D analyses. It contrasts with altimetric or hypsometric data, which include elevation and topographic detail.

Applications include cadastral mapping, urban planning, infrastructure networks, building footprints, and map digitization. In CAD and GIS, planimetric data are used for spatial analyses where height data are unnecessary.

Limitations: planimetric representations may distort distances and areas when the terrain is not flat, and map projections introduce distortions. In 3D modeling, planimetric data are often supplemented with height data to form 3D GIS, BIM, or DEMs.