GIS Dictionary

Browse dictionary

hillshading

URL copied Share URL
  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. Media\hillshading.gif

Related Terms