Terrain

Import and visualization of terrain models from GeoTIFF files.

Overview

Terrain models show the topography beneath your BIM models:

• Elevation data from GeoTIFF (DEM/DTM)
• 3D visualization in the viewer
• Georeferencing with IFC models

Importing GeoTIFF

Supported Formats

Format	Extension	Description
GeoTIFF	.tif, .tiff	GeoTIFF with elevation data
Digital Elevation Model	.dem	USGS DEM format

Performing Import

1. Open a project
2. Click "Import Terrain" in the toolbar
3. Select the GeoTIFF file
4. The system automatically detects:
   • Coordinate system (EPSG code)
   • Resolution (meters per pixel)
   • Elevation range (min/max height)
5. Adjust vertical exaggeration if needed
6. Click "Import"

Coordinate Systems

Supported reference systems (same as GIS Integration):

EPSG	Name	Usage
25832	ETRS89 / UTM zone 32N	Germany (standard)
4326	WGS 84	GPS / International

Georeferencing Required

The GeoTIFF must be georeferenced (with EPSG code). Files without a coordinate system cannot be imported.

Displaying Terrain

After import, the terrain is automatically displayed in the 3D viewer.

Display Options

Option	Description
Visibility	Show/hide terrain
Transparency	Adjust opacity
Vertical Exaggeration	Vertical scaling
Color Scheme	Elevation-based coloring

Color Schemes

• Grayscale - Dark (low) to light (high)
• Terrain - Green (low) through brown to white (high)
• Contours - With contour lines displayed

Measuring Elevations

Combine terrain with the coordinate tool:

1. Enable Coordinate Tool in the toolbox
2. Click on the terrain
3. The elevation is shown in the coordinates

→ See Coordinate Tool

Collision Detection with Terrain

Check if BIM elements collide with the terrain:

1. Open Collision Detection
2. Select the BIM model as Model A
3. Select Terrain as Model B
4. Start the check

Check Foundations

Useful for verifying whether foundations are correctly placed in the ground or if building parts extend into the slope.

→ See Collision Detection

Removing Terrain

1. Click on "Terrain" in the toolbar
2. Click on "Remove"
3. Confirm

Best Practices

Adjust Resolution

High-resolution GeoTIFFs (< 1m/pixel) can become very large. For overview displays, 5-10m resolution is often sufficient.

Clip to Area

Clip the GeoTIFF to the project area before import. This significantly reduces loading times.

Use Vertical Exaggeration

For flat terrain, slight exaggeration (1.5-2x) can make details more visible.

Data Sources

Germany

• DGM1 - Digital terrain model 1m resolution (state survey)
• SRTM - 30m resolution (free)
• Copernicus DEM - 25m resolution (EU, free)

Download Portals

• State survey offices (Landesvermessungsämter)
• OpenDEM (opendem.info)
• Copernicus Land Monitoring Service

Troubleshooting

Import Failed

1. Check the file format (GeoTIFF?)
2. Check the coordinate system (EPSG present?)
3. Check the file size (max. 100 MB)

Wrong Positioning

1. Check the EPSG of the GeoTIFF file
2. Compare with IFC georeferencing
3. Enable coordinate debug in settings

Performance Issues

1. Reduce the resolution of the GeoTIFF
2. Clip to the project area
3. Disable shadows in viewer settings

See Also

• GIS Integration - Import GIS data
• Coordinate Tool - Read elevations
• Collision Detection - Check terrain collisions
• 3D Viewer - Viewer settings