GIS 5935: TINs and DEMs

This week's assignment was working with TINs and DEMs, with emphasis on the differences between the two. The TIN is an interesting data model, being made up of a network of triangles based on elevation points. Each triangle can vary in elevation, but slope and aspect remain the same throughout each one. The number and location of elevation points used to create the TIN are important. In areas with more topographical variance, it's necessary to use more data points, whereas in generally flat areas, not as many are needed. This creates a network of triangles of varying sizes.

The image below is an example of a typical TIN, with symbology shown for the nodes, edges, and contours.