CUBIZEN: Global Mapper, CityEngine & Creative Tech

Learn how to perform advanced arithmetic operations on multiple Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to analyze terrain changes and relationships.

This tutorial covers the 15 available terrain operations in Global Mapper, providing a deep dive into practical applications like elevation addition, signed/unsigned subtraction for cut-and-fill analysis, and conditional filtering for specific elevation ranges. It is designed to help GIS professionals perform complex spatial calculations across overlapping datasets.

This tutorial explains how to perform arithmetic and comparison operations on DEM terrain layers in Global Mapper.

Understanding DEM Arithmetic Operations in Global Mapper

Global Mapper provides a total of 15 different operations for combining or comparing terrain layers. The following operations are available for DEM calculation and terrain comparison:

DEM Elevation Arithmetic Operations

• Addition: Adds the values of two input terrain datasets to create a new elevation.
• Subtraction (Difference) - Signed: Calculates the difference between two datasets while maintaining the sign (+/-). This is useful for analyzing the direction of elevation change (increase/decrease). If Layer A is larger than B, the result is positive (+); otherwise, it's negative (-).
• Subtraction (Difference) - Unsigned: Calculates the absolute difference between two datasets. It always returns a positive value, which is useful for measuring the total magnitude of change.
• Average Elevation: Calculates the mean value of the two input datasets to find the average elevation distribution.
• Multiply Values: Multiplies the two inputs. Often used to emphasize specific patterns by multiplying elevation with weighting data.
• Divide 1st Value by 2nd: Divides the first dataset by the second. Used for ratio analysis or calculating relative elevation differences.

DEM Comparison and Terrain Difference Operations

• Minimum Elevation: Selects the lower value between the two input datasets.
• Maximum Elevation: Selects the higher value between the two input datasets.
• Filter (Keep First if Greater than Second): Retains the value from the first dataset only if it is greater than the second.
• Filter (Keep First if Less Than Second): Retains the value from the first dataset only if it is less than the second.

DEM Filtering and Conditional Terrain Operations

• Filter (Keep First if Second Valid): Retains the first dataset's value only if the second dataset has a valid value at that location.
• Cut Layer Out (Keep First if Second Invalid): Retains the first dataset's value only if the second dataset is invalid at that location.
• Filter (Keep First if Second Greater Than Compare): Retains the first dataset's value if the second dataset is greater than a specific comparison value.
• Filter (Keep First if Second Less Than Compare): Retains the first dataset's value if the second dataset is less than a specific comparison value.
• Count Valid Layers at Each Location: Analyzes and counts the number of valid overlapping layers at each coordinate.

While these features might not be used frequently in general urban planning or landscape design, they are vital for specific technical analyses. The following example demonstrates a practical DEM comparison workflow.

How to Combine and Compare DEM Layers in Global Mapper

You can practice with the sample DEM_Arithmetic.zip (Verified and safe file for Global Mapper.) file available via the support links. Once you open the file in Global Mapper, you will see two layers: the original terrain and the planned elevation (Design Level).

To perform the calculation, you must have at least two DEM layers registered. In this example, the 'Planned Elevation' layer is overlaid on the 'Original Terrain' layer.

Step 1: Creating a DEM Addition Layer

Navigate to Terrain Analysis -> Combine/Compare Terrain Layers...

The "Combine Terrain Options" window will appear. Enter a name for the resulting layer (e.g., "DEM Addition") and select Addition as the Operation. Select the layers you want to add while holding the Ctrl key.

After clicking OK, Global Mapper generates a new terrain layer containing the summed elevation values.

Step 2: DEM Difference Analysis with Signed and Unsigned Subtraction

For subtraction, the order of layers is crucial. Let's subtract the 'Planned Elevation' from the 'Original Terrain'.

In the "Subtraction (Difference) - Signed" result, you will see values ranging from negative to positive. This result is commonly used for cut-and-fill analysis and elevation change detection workflows.

Next, compare the result with the Unsigned Subtraction operation. This operation converts all differences into absolute values.

To verify the difference, right-click on the 'Subtraction' layer and select Options. Under the Alter Elevation Values tab, you can see the elevation range.

signed :

Unsigned :

As you can see, the 'Unsigned' version turns all negative changes into positive values, focusing only on the amount of change rather than the direction.

Step 3: Filtering Terrain Data by Elevation Range

Finally, let's look at Filter (Keep First if Second Greater than Compare). This extracts areas from the first layer where the second layer's elevation exceeds a certain value.

For example, if we enter 85 as the 'Compare Value', Global Mapper identifies areas in the 'Planned Elevation' layer higher than 85m and extracts the corresponding terrain data from the 'Original Terrain' layer.

Once you understand these core operations, the remaining terrain calculation tools become much easier to apply in real GIS workflows. I encourage you to experiment with each one to see how they can serve your GIS projects.

That's all for today!