Introduction

Feature Overview Walkthrough Terrain Visualization Modes Basemaps & Historical Imagery Split & Compare Modes River-REM

Sources

Terrain and Basemap Sources National Open-Data Terrain Coverage Overlays Bring Your Own Data (BYOD)nDSM and Comparison (DSM − DTM, change detection)

Tools

Tools (Drawing, Elevation Picker, Anim)Export & Share Keyboard Shortcuts

Advanced Features

Bookmarks Embedding & URL parameters Use with AI Assistants Settings Sun Position Projects (Import / Export)Open In Frescoes & Artifact Scans Streaming & Storage Settings

Setup Tech Stack Equations & Formulas Non-Geo Relief Visualization Fumadocs customization URL as an API (Scalar)Indexing, SEO and Agents State reference (URL & storage)

Custom Protocols

Custom Protocols Terrain Analysis Rendering Pipeline LRM (Local Relief Model)Lighting Effects (Matcap / Phong / Hard Shadows)WMS Float32 DEM Protocol VRT Mosaic Protocol ArcGIS LERC Elevation Protocol Quantized Mesh Protocol Derived Terrain Protocol PMTiles and COG Contours Tile Caches

Map and UI internals

Camera Sync Map Bounds and Underzoom Product Tour (Coachmark)Layer Order and Slots

Historical

ESRI Wayback Google Earth Historical (Time Machine) Protocol

MapLibre GL Features Topography, Geomorphometry, Hydrology Compared with Other Tools Credits & Inspiration

Resources and Inspiration

Topography, Geomorphometry, Hydrology

Scientific literature and tools behind the terrain-analysis modes

WhiteboxTools Terrain Analysis Manual
WhiteboxTools Geomorphometric Analysis Manual (Wayback archive, with screenshots)
Geomorphometry 2020 Conference Proceedings (PDF)
Geomorphometry 2025 Conference Proceedings (PDF)
LSP Calculator — land surface parameters web service
LSP Calculator — source code

MapLibre GL Features

MapLibre GL JS issues, PRs, and plugins this app builds on or tracks

Compared with Other Tools

Where Terrain Viewer fits next to RVT, QGIS, Google Earth, Cesium, OpenTopography, GeoLibre, forge3d and the rest, and when each is the better choice