What does a perspective view of a digital terrain model create?

A perspective view of a digital terrain model creates a 3D appearance, which allows for a more realistic representation of the terrain's features and contours. This type of view enhances the visualization of elevation variations, slopes, and landforms by simulating how the terrain would look from a specific viewpoint in three-dimensional space. Users can better understand the relationships between different landscape features, which is particularly beneficial in applications such as urban planning, landscape design, and environmental analysis.

In contrast, an aerial view typically presents the terrain from above without the depth perception offered by a perspective view, while a flat view lacks the elevation detail and terrain contours, resulting in a less informative visualization. A plan view generally depicts features in a two-dimensional layout, which may lose important vertical context that a perspective view effectively conveys.