A number of GI vendors tout 3D products around, when in fact they refer to 2.5D – so what is the difference? Well for 2.5D you can have only one height value (z coordinate) for each x,y coordinate pair. This allows you to create surfaces (view sheds, line-of-sight) but does not allow you to model true 3D objects, which enclose some space (for example a cube, a building).
So, come on vendors – update your software to handle true 3D or correct your terminology!
Tags: 3D, Geographic Information Systems, GIS
