Understanding DEM: A 3D World on Your Screen

So, what exactly is DEM? In the realm of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), DEM stands for Digital Elevation Model. Also sometimes referred to as a digital terrain model, a DEM is a 3D representation of the Earth's surface, crucial for various mapping applications. Available in both raster and vector formats (as contour lines), DEM provides a detailed view of the terrain. But that's not all; DEM also comes in the form of shaded relief, commonly known as hillshade.

Hillshade is a standard map style that focuses on natural features. It adds depth to maps by creating realistic 3D representations of hills, valleys

 and mountains. By incorporating hillshade into our Map Display API, we're aligning our mapping solutions with the current industry standards, offering you a more immersive mapping experience.

Curious to see the transformation? Take a peek!

The Technical Bit: Maps Raster Hillshade Tile API

Our Maps Raster Hillshade Tile API endpoint provides terrain elevation data in gridded sections known as tiles. These tiles are essentially square images, each measuring 514 x 514 pixels. What's more, they're available at 14 different zoom levels, ranging from 0 to 13, so you can explore the terrain at varying levels of detail. Check the details in our 

Licensing and Pricing: Seamless Integration at Unchanged Costs

We understand the value of streamlined processes, and that's why we've made integrating hillshade into your maps hassle free. Hillshade operates as a separate endpoint within our Map Display API. 

For example, you can fetch the image above with this HTTP GET request:

https://api.tomtom.com/map/1/tile/hill/main/8/68/120.png?key={Your_API_Key}

To visualize your map with hillshade, you'll need to make two API requests — one for the regular map tile and another for the hillshade endpoint. The best part? The price per request remains unchanged, which means you get enhanced visuals without breaking the bank.

If you display the hillshade tile, you notice that it can have a blue-ish or green palette. The reason is that the real elevation in meters is encoded in each pixels. This value can be calculated using the following formula:

height = -10000 + ((Red * 256 * 256 + Green * 256 + Blue) * 0.1)

So for a pixels with the color as rgb(1,150,5) using this formula we get:

height = -10000 + ((1 * 256 * 256 + 150 * 256 + 5) * 0.1)

And we get : 394 meters above the sea level. 

Would you like to see it live? Head to our 

r and the hillside layer should be in the "Land Use" section:

In the middle section - the layer properties area - you can change the shade color and the illumination direction and different effects can be created. For example changing some values we get a totally different look:

With our updated DEM and hillshade features, your maps will not only inform but also inspire, providing a more immersive experience for both you and your users. Let us know about your experience and happy mapping!

Elevate Your Mapping Experience: Introducing Enhanced DEM and Hillshade in Our Maps 

Digital Elevation Model and Hillshade Elevated for uncompiled maps

TomTom Maps SDK for Web V6 Released to General Availability

Starting today, V6 of the Maps SDK for Web is now the latest and greatest version available on our Developer Portal. With this latest update you’ll see improved highlights such as:

• The ability to style all map layers at once & import it into Maps SDK

Thanks to Merged Styles, you can save time editing map, traffic and POI layers simultaneously in the 

. When you’re done styling, you can easily import your edited map into the Maps SDK.

• Quick access to POI data powered by Foursquare

We’ve done the heavy lifting for you, so you can easily integrate Foursquare POI Photos and Details. Here’s an example.

• 14 new examples to impress your users with an interactive map experience

Available only in Maps for Web SDK V6, you can make your map more informative and engaging by creating animations, clustered bubbles, clickable POIs and overlaying images.

As technology evolves, so do we. Older versions of the Maps SDK will enter deprecation for the next 12 months, as follows:

If you are actively developing your application – start migration to V6 now. To help ease through the transition, please refer to the tutorials.

We know that life can get busy, so we recommend you download libraries, an offline version of the documentation, examples and plugins for your current version before the withdrawal date.

If you’re ready to learn more about version 6 of Map SDK, here are a few links to get your started:

Of course, if you find yourself facing any problems as you start developing your project using our Maps SDK, please reach out to us in the TomTom Developer Forum.

TomTom Maps SDK for Web V6 Now Available

TomTom Maps SDK for Web V6 Released to General Availability

Depracation of Previous Versions

Why Migrate?

Quick Links

Other SDKs