GIS Dictionary

Definitions for GIS terms related to operations such as analysis, GIS modeling and web-based GIS, cartography, and Esri software.

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hillshading

  1. [map design] Shadows drawn on a map to simulate the effect of the sun's rays over the varied terrain of the land.
  2. [map design] The hypothetical illumination of a surface according to a specified azimuth and altitude for the sun. Hillshading creates a three-dimensional effect that provides a sense of visual relief for cartography, and a relative measure of incident light for analysis.
    hillshading Illustration