Topography

Information on FSO terrain data available as geodata. More than 30 years ago, on the basis of the RIMINI elevation model, the FSO derived grid data with a resolution of 100 m on Switzerland's altitude, aspect and slope inclination that could be used in geographic information systems and was, particularly in combination with other spatial data, suitable for statistical analyses.

The data basis for GEOSTAT's terrain data is the RIMINI terrain model, a matrix model with a spatial resolution of 250m, whose spatial coverage (especially in the extreme eastern part of Switzerland) was extended and some 30 years ago, interpolated to a resolution of 100 m. This GEOSTAT terrain model no longer meets all of today's requirements with regards to accuracy, but can occasionally still be useful for small-scale maps or for visualisation applications, as the amounts of data concerned are relatively small (in contrast to more precise terrain data with a higher resolution) and can be provided free of charge.

Unlike most other FSO geodata, this terrain model is not confined strictly to the boundaries of the Swiss national territory, but is determined by the coverage of the topographical maps which were used for the production of the RIMINI terrain model.

This topographical data is available through GEOSTAT as a text file including the following attributes:

• Coordinates
• Elevation (rounded to an accuracy of 1 m)
• Tripled standard error of elevation interpolation in meters (Sigma Höhe)
• Slope, inclination in gon (centesimal degrees with values from 0-100, insignificant values indicated by negative numbers)
• Exposition in gon (0-399)
• Clustered elevation: 35 elevation classes with intervals from 50 to 400 m
• Clustered inclination: 14 classes of 5 gon (centesimal degrees) each
  
• Clustered exposition: 10 classes (8 major compass directions or aspects, as well as "flat" and "undefined")