Placepoint

Elevation Profile

An elevation profile is a cross-section of the landscape along a chosen line. The height is plotted point by point and shows gradients, breaks in slope and steep drops. Terrain conditions decide much of what you can build on a site: steep ground raises the cost of cutting, filling, foundations and access, and it can trigger a requirement for a geotechnical assessment under TEK17 § 7-3.

The data comes from Nasjonal detaljert høydemodell (the national detailed elevation model, DOM/DTM), built on airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) run by Kartverket and its partners. The models are published openly through Geonorge and hoydedata.no, at resolutions from 50 cm point spacing in built-up areas to about 1 m in outlying areas. The licence is Norsk lisens for offentlige data (NLOD, the Norwegian licence for public data).

In site and project development, the profile is used to:

  • calculate the cut and fill balance
  • plan access and the road alignment
  • size the foundations
  • assess views, overlooking and sun conditions

The same elevation data also feeds landslide and flood analyses at NVE, sight line analyses, sun and shadow maps and 3D visualisations in BIM and GIS tools. The profile is not the same as contour lines: contours are lines that join points at the same height above sea level and give a full coverage picture of the terrain, while the profile follows one specific section line.

In Placepoint, the terrain appears in the 3D Designer when you assess a site, and elevation data sits as a map layer in the map.

How the dataset appears in the map

The dataset is part of the map layer Property as Cadastre – Property Map:

Elevation Profile in Placepoint

From Placepoint's glossary: Elevation Profile

More information: Kartverket: Terrengdata, Geonorge: Høydedata, NVE: Skred- og flomdata

English: Terrain profile (cross-section of ground elevation).

Common questions we come across

What is an elevation profile?

An elevation profile shows the height profile and topography for an area or a property. Terrain conditions decide how the land can be used and which solutions are realistic.

Why do terrain conditions matter for development?

Steep terrain raises the cost of ground works, foundations and access. It can also trigger a requirement for geotechnical surveys and stability assessments, and it can limit the degree of utilisation.

Where do I find terrain data for a property?

Terrain data is available from Kartverket as digital elevation models (DEM). These form the basis for elevation profiles, sun and shadow analysis, and visualisation of projects in Placepoint.

What is the difference between an elevation profile and contour lines?

An elevation profile shows the height profile along a line. Contour lines are lines on a map that join points at the same height above sea level and give a full coverage picture of the terrain.

Can I see the elevation profile in Placepoint?

Yes. Placepoint uses digital elevation data and shows elevation profiles and contour lines in the map interface, which makes it easy to assess the topography of a property.