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MapKmlTools

Terrain Extractor
PRO

Extract contours, rivers, slope, and elevation data from your Area of Interest (AOI). Draw on the map or upload a KML/KMZ (Polygons only).

Upload KML/KMZ

Must be a Polygon

OR

Use the Draw tool on the map

Extraction Parameters

Detailed (Ord 2)Major Only (Ord 6)
Draw a polygon
    Edit layersDelete layers
      Leaflet Esri
      4.6(167 ratings)
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      What is Terrain Extractor Tool?

      The Terrain Extractor Tool is a powerful, browser-based utility that connects to cloud-based GIS processing to extract specialized terrain features from global elevation datasets.

      Instead of manually downloading heavy DEM files and processing them in desktop software like QGIS or ArcGIS, you simply upload your boundary, and our servers do the heavy lifting—returning ready-to-use vector KMLs and raster GeoTIFFs.

      When Should You Use This Tool?

      • •You need to quickly generate contour lines for a site plan without complex software.
      • •You want to map the hydrological river network and stream flow of a specific watershed.
      • •You need a color-coded slope map to analyze terrain steepness for construction or agriculture.
      • •You require a fast, reliable source of SRTM 30m elevation data clipped perfectly to your project boundary.

      How to Use Terrain Extractor Tool

      1. Upload your Area of Interest (AOI) boundary as a KML or KMZ file.
      2. Adjust the extraction parameters like Contour Interval, Slope Measurement, and River Extraction Level.
      3. The system automatically extracts the SRTM DEM data for your boundary.
      4. Once processing completes, your custom terrain data is ready to download.
      5. Click on the specific layer (Contours, Rivers, Slope, or Elevation) to download the file directly.

      Real-World Use Cases

      💧

      Hydrology & Drainage Planning

      Use the extracted river networks and Strahler orders to understand water flow paths, plan drainage systems, and analyze watershed topologies.

      ⛰️

      Topographic Mapping

      Download precise contour intervals to assist with 3D modeling, site surveying, and civil engineering project visualizations.

      🚜

      Agriculture & Land Management

      Analyze the slope GeoTIFFs in degrees or percentage to determine land suitability for farming, planting, or machinery access.

      Supported Formats & Limits

      • Input Formats: KML, KMZ (for Area of Interest Boundary)
      • Vector Outputs: KML (Contours, River Networks)
      • Raster Outputs: GeoTIFF (Slope, Elevation Heatmap)
      • Data Source: SRTM GL1 (30m global resolution)

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Q:What terrain data sources does this tool use?

      We pull from SRTM 30m, ALOS 12.5m, and Copernicus 30m DEM datasets to provide global high-resolution terrain data.

      Q:What formats can I export terrain data in?

      You can export terrain as GeoTIFF (for GIS software), CSV elevation grids, and KML contour lines for Google Earth.

      Q:Can I extract terrain for a custom polygon boundary?

      Yes, upload a KML or GeoJSON polygon to clip terrain data exactly to your area of interest.

      Q:Is the terrain data accurate enough for engineering projects?

      For planning and feasibility studies, yes. For precision civil engineering, we recommend using lidar data from local authorities.

      Q:How large an area can I extract terrain for?

      Free users can extract up to 100 km². Registered users can extract larger regions for research and project work.

      Q:What is the resolution of the extracted terrain data?

      The tool utilizes the OpenTopography SRTM GL1 dataset, which provides a global elevation resolution of approximately 30 meters per pixel.

      Q:What does the River Extraction Level (Strahler Order) mean?

      The Strahler stream order is a way to define the size of a stream based on a hierarchy of tributaries. Order 1 represents tiny headwater streams. As you increase the slider (e.g., to Order 3 or 4), the tool filters out the smaller streams, extracting only the larger, main river branches.

      Q:Why do I need to log in to download the results?

      Because terrain extraction requires significant server-side GPU processing, downloads are restricted to logged-in users to prevent abuse and ensure fast generation times for everyone.

      Q:Are the Contour Lines continuous?

      Yes. Our extraction pipeline uses advanced topological tracing to ensure contour lines and river networks are continuous vector features, perfect for importing directly into CAD or GIS.

      Q:Can I extract data for very large areas?

      Yes, though processing time may increase. If your KML boundary is excessively large, the tool will focus on the provided bounding box, up to the maximum permitted by the SRTM dataset.