Vertical exaggeration

A Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) represents space using a set of non-overlapping triangles that border Vertical exaggeration is a visual effect that results from multiplying the z-values in a scene by a number. You can turn molehills into mountains or mountains into molehills. A vertical exaggeration of 2 multiplies all z-values by 2, an exaggeration of 0.1 multiplies all z-values by 0.1, and so on.

Vertical exaggeration has two main uses. First, it can be used to emphasize small changes in elevation on a surface that is relatively flat, or that looks flat because of its large extent. Second, it can bring z-values into proportion with x,y values when these units measure different things. This happens when the z-values represent an attribute other than elevation (for example, in 3D surfaces of population density or household income) or when the x,y units are in decimal degrees and the z units are in meters or feet.

Vertical exaggeration is a purely visual effect and does not influence analysis.

A composite view of a mountain. In the foreground (blue), the mountain has no vertical exaggeration. In the middle ground (green) the vertical exaggeration is 2. In the background (red), the vertical exaggeration is 5.