Triangulated Irregular Networks (TINs)

A Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) is a surface data structure created from irregularly spaced points and their elevations. The points are connected to form triangular facets. TINs are stored as compound variables, just like coordinates, colors, and scopes.

Maptitude can create TINs and use them for surface analysis and other spatial analysis, such as creating areas of influence or creating a regular grid (DEM). The following table lists the GISDK functions that are used for creating and using TINs:

GISDK Function	Summary
EstimateElevation()	Calculates a spot elevation using a TIN
CreateContourDB()	Creates a line or area geographic file of the contours derived from a TIN
CreateConvexHullDB()	Creates an area geographic file that encloses all of the points in a TIN
CreateHullDB()	Creates an area or a line DBD database based on a TIN
CreateTriangulation()	Creates a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN)
CreateTriangulationAreaDB()	Creates an area geographic file from the facets in a TIN, with slope and aspect values
CreateVisibilityMap()	Creates an area geographic file from a TIN to show the area that is visible from a certain height at a viewpoint
CreateVoronoiDB()	Creates an area geographic file from a TIN with the areas of influence around each point in the TIN
GenerateDEMGrid()	Creates a grid geographic file containing a regular grid (DEM) generated from a TIN
TINElevations()	Gets the minimum and maximum elevations in a TIN
TINScope()	Gets the scope for a TIN