Abstract. The present study aim to create a Digital Terrain Model by using one of the most common and available source of information: paper maps.Digital Terrain Models are an important component in several fields of engineering, Geographical Informational Systems, hydrology, and many others, where a three dimensional representation of the terrain is important. Data acquisition for our purpose requires either detailed topographical surveys which requires a long period of time, or using a three dimensional scanning technology which in most cases is a very expensive solution. By digitizing the contours from paper maps, using lines, we create vertexes that store the tridimensional position of the point. All this vertexes will be exported as three dimensional points, in a text format with three columns: the X coordinate, the Y coordinate and Z which represents the point elevation. After creating this file using computer software we can generate a digital terrain model. Upon this created model we can make several analysis, like profiles, line of sight between points. The model can be exported in a digital format and used in other fields of interest.

Key words:contours, digitize, digital terrain model, surface modeling

Presentation: oral