Skip to main content

Netherlands: DEM and DSM - 0.5 meter - AHN

Updated
This feature is included in the following plans: Pro, Premium

You can use the Plex-Earth features to create terrain models from free, quality data you can find online. 

About the Data

Data Provider: AHN (Actueel  Hoogtebestand Nederland)

Data Type: Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Surface Model (DSM) 

Link: 

Data Info: https://www.ahn.nl/dataroom

Rights: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.nl

Resolution: 0.5 meter, 5 meter

ℹ️ Translation Notice: The source material for this workflow is in Dutch. A machine translation was used for the English version, and minor terminology differences may occur.

Data Download

  1. Visit the Data URL → Digital Terrain Model (DTM) 0,5m: https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn/atom/dtm_05m.xml
    Digital Surface Model (DSM) 0,5m: https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn/atom/dsm_05m.xml 

  2.  Select Area and Download data:
    Zoom in on the map and select the area of your interest.

    Proceed to download the data.

Use Data for Terrain Model creation

After downloading the data, you can now proceed with creating a terrain model in CAD.

  1. In AutoCAD or BricsCAD, go to the Plex-Earth ribbon → click on the Create Terrain dropdown box → Terrain from GeoTIFF → load the GeoTIFF downloaded.

  2. In the Import GeoTIFF palette, specify the area by clicking on the Select Area button, then use your mouse cursor to draw a rectangle, and select the desired resolution using the slider.

  3. Click on the Import Terrain button

  4. Select the Surface Type from the options available:

    • Contour Polylines

    • Points

    • TIN Mesh

    • Civil 3D Surface

    • Create Terrain Model

For the first four options, CAD objects are directly imported, ready to be used in CAD or other software.

The last option creates a Plex-Earth terrain model, which can be saved in your DWG With the help of Plex-Earth, you can further customize the terrain and insert the data as CAD objects later on.

Check out the full guide here: Create Terrain from GeoTIFF

ℹ️ NOTE: For this tutorial process, it is not mandatory to apply a coordinate system before working with the GeoTIFF, as Plex-Earth will automatically detect it from the file. The coordinate system applied can be changed using the Change Coordinate System button, if needed.

Here is the result!

Do you know any source of terrain data that you are interested in using?

Click Here and send us the following details:

Link to the Data provider, Data provider, or any other info you might find relevant.

Related articles