Welcome to the 3DF Zephyr tutorial series.
In the following tutorial, we will learn how to create DSMs (Digital Surface Models), DTMs (Digital Terrain Models) and Elevation Profiles.
This tutorial cannot be completed with 3DF Zephyr Free or Lite versions!
In 3DF Zephyr, we can create DSMs and DTMs via the Orthophoto Generation Wizard and view them directly from the DEM Viewer Utility, which can also be used to:
DSM/DTM files and Orthophotos are automatically loaded together if located in the same directory or project. Here is an example of contour lines, DEM, and orthophoto mixed together inside the DEM viewer:
The DEM viewer options are organized as follows:
– The File menu includes the:
– The View menu allows to select:
– The Tools menu allows enabling:
– The Color bar on the left side of the DEM viewer allows to set the elevation range thanks to the minimum and maximum elevation thresholds.
As an example for this tutorial, it can use the public dataset linked below:
![]() | Dataset Download – Mining site (642 MB) |
This step matches the “Orthophoto Generation Tutorial” as it require to generate an Orthophoto before creating any DSM / DTM. Remember to flag the Generate DTM checkbox in the Step 3 – Export settings page during the orthophoto creation wizard.
At the end of the orthophoto generation wizard process or upon creating a new project, the recently generated orthophoto will be listed in the Project tab under the dedicated Orthophoto section. The DEM viewer will automatically activate upon completion of the computation, displaying the newly created DEM in the 3DF Zephyr interface.
The DEM viewer can be opened in 3DF Zephyr menu bar: Utilities (1) > Images (2) > DEM viewer Utility (3).
In The File menu, you can use the options to load the files in the viewer:
– Open from files option: it loads DTM and DSM files in .tiff format. This command is useful for viewing the DEM files in the viewer, not necessarily related to the project you are working on. Selecting the DSM will load the corresponding DTM, and it will possible to change their display in the menu View > Band.
– Open from workspace option loads both DEM files and orthophotos previously saved in the current project.
– Export color images option: it allows exporting DEM files to one of the following image formats: .png, .jpg, .bmp.
Distance (1) measurement tools can be activated from the Tools menu or by clicking directly on the respective buttons in the DEM interface. Using the cursor, place two points on the DEM to create a Distance (2), and click again on the “Enable distance tool” (1) button to exit the tool.
The tool for measuring Area (3) works in a similar way but requires placing at least three points on the DEM to calculate the Area (4). Click on the “Enable area tool” (3) button to exit the tool.
The DEM viewer allows creating one or more Elevation profiles that, as Drawing elements, can be exported to both .pdf and .dxf formats.
To draw an Elevation profile, click the “Tools” (1) menu in the DEM viewer and select the “Enable Elevation Profile tool” (2) option. Alternatively, click the corresponding icon button and pick at least two points (3) to draw a profile on your DSM / DTM. You will notice that each vertex will be identified by a White Point (see image below).
Once all the profile vertices have been placed, click the “Enable Elevation Profile tool” (4) again or double-click to add the “Last vertex” (4a). The Generate Elevation Profile (5) setup page will automatically pop up.
You will notice that both the Quota and Progressive entries are already listed in the chart, and you can:
– define the Step size in meters (distance between each quota/progressive value) or the Step count, by flagging the check box;
– Add Latitude and Longitude Configurations.
– Add Setup/Delete Setup/Edit/Move up/Move down your Quota, Progressive, Latitude and Longitude entries by clicking the related button.
Click “Next” (6) to select the Profile (7) you want to generate from the drop-down menu on the Preview (8) page, and the Elevation profile will be automatically created.
You can click the Export (9) button to select the desired Format (.pdf, .dxf) and the Page size and Resolution of the .pdf layout. Click “Finish” (10) to exit the DEM Viewer.
Below; you can find a final summary video of this tutorial:
In the Quarry volume monitoring case study, you can see an application of the DEM files created in 3DF Zephyr related to an applied scenario.