About the Elevation Profile Calculator
The Elevation Profile Calculator is a scientifically accurate, web-based GIS and surveying tool that generates topographic cross-sections, calculates slope gradients, path lengths, and vertical exaggeration from user-defined coordinate points with elevation data. Built on the principles of topographic mapping and differential geometry, the Elevation Profile Calculator implements precise distance and elevation change calculations using the Haversine formula for geographic coordinates and 3D Euclidean distance for Cartesian systems, validated against SRTM, ASTER, and LiDAR DEMs across Bangladesh and globally.
Used by civil engineers, agricultural planners, and flood risk assessors, this tool supports infrastructure route optimization, drainage planning, and precision farming in the flat to moderately hilly terrains of Bangladesh.
Topographic Profile Fundamentals
A topographic profile is a 2D cross-section along a line of interest:
Key Parameters:
- Path Length: 3D distance including elevation
- Slope Gradient: Rise over run (%)
- Vertical Exaggeration: VE = (Vertical Scale)/(Horizontal Scale)
Importance of Elevation Profiles
In Bangladesh:
- 90% area < 12m elevation — critical for flood modeling
- Chittagong Hill Tracts: slopes up to 40%
- Road alignment: avoid >8% gradient
- Irrigation canals: require 0.01–0.1% fall
When and Why You Should Use This Calculator
Use the Elevation Profile Calculator for:
- Road, railway, and pipeline route planning
- Flood inundation modeling in haors
- Tea estate terrace design in Sylhet
- Drainage and canal alignment
- Land suitability for agriculture
Applications in Bangladesh:
- Dhaka–Chattogram highway elevation analysis
- Padma Bridge approach road profiling
- Haor crop flood risk mapping
- Tea garden erosion control
User Guidelines for Accurate Results
To ensure precision:
- Use WGS84 coordinates (decimal degrees)
- Elevation in meters above MSL
- Minimum 2 points, ideally 10+ for smooth profile
- Vertical exaggeration 3–10x for visualization
- Source: SRTM, Google Earth, GPS survey
Purpose and Research Applications
This calculator enables:
- Cut-and-fill volume estimation
- Flood wave propagation modeling
- Landslide susceptibility mapping
- Precision agriculture planning
Interpretation of Results
Key outputs include:
- Profile graph: Elevation vs. distance
- Max slope: Steepest segment
- Elevation gain/loss: For energy or flood depth
- Path length: True 3D distance
Limitations and Advanced Considerations
Model assumptions:
- Linear interpolation between points
- No curvature correction
- Point elevation accuracy depends on source
References and Further Reading
- USGS. (2019). Topographic Mapping Standards.
- FAO. (2020). Land and Water Survey Guidelines.
- BWDB. (2022). Digital Elevation Model of Bangladesh.
- SRDI. (2021). Soil and Terrain Database.
- Hughes et al. (2018). GIS for Infrastructure Planning.
For agricultural land profiling in Bangladesh, visit Agri Care Hub. Learn more about cross-section mapping on the Elevation Profile Calculator Wikipedia page.