aspect
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[analysis/geoprocessing]
The compass direction that a topographic slope faces, usually measured in degrees from north. Aspect can be generated from continuous elevation surfaces. For example, the aspect recorded for a TIN face is the steepest downslope direction of the face, and the aspect of a cell in a raster is the steepest downslope direction of a plane defined by the cell and its eight surrounding neighbors.
Can also be stated as the downslope direction of the maximum vertical change in the surface determined over a given horizontal distance.
- [map projections] The conceptual center of a projection system.
- [cartography] The location of the point or lines of tangency on a developable surface.