
Python Geospatial Analysis Cookbook
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Our DEM can be the basis for many types of derived raster datasets. One of these derivatives is the so called hillshade raster dataset. A hillshade raster represents a 2D view of 3D elevation data, assigning gray raster shades and giving them a 3D effect by enabling you to see the highs and lows of your terrain. The hillshade is a pure visualization helper to create a nice looking map and show relief on a 2D map.
The pure Python solution to creating a hillshade is written by Roger Veciana i Rovira and you can find it at http://geoexamples.blogspot.co.at/2014/03/shaded-relief-images-using-gdal-python.html. There is also a nice solution by Joel Lawhead in Chapter 7, Python and Elevation Data of Learning Geospatial Analysis with Python. For those of you looking for a detailed description of the hillshade from ESRI, check this page out at http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?TopicName=How%20Hillshade%20works. The gdaldem
hillshade...
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