Iyini i-topography?
I-topography iwukufunda ngezimo nezici zomhlaba. I-topography yendawo ingase ibhekisele ekwakhekeni komhlaba kanye nezici ngokwazo, noma incazelo noma ukufanekisa emabalazweni.  I-topography iyinkambu ye-geoscience nesayensi yeplanethi futhi iphathelene nemininingwane yendawo ngokujwayelekile, kufaka phakathi hhayi kuphela ukukhululeka, kepha futhi nezici zemvelo, zokufakelwa, nezamasiko ezinjengezindlela, imingcele yomhlaba, nezakhiwo. E-United States, i-topography ivame ukusho ukukhululeka ngokukhethekile, nakuba amabalazwe e-USGS engabhalisi nje kuphela ukuphakama kokuphakama, kodwa futhi nemigwaqo, izindawo ezinabantu, izakhiwo, imingcele yomhlaba, nokunye.  I-topography ngomqondo omncane ihlanganisa ukuqoshwa kokukhululeka noma indawo, ikhwalithi enobukhulu obuthathu yendawo, kanye nokuhlonza ukwakheka kwendawo ethile; lokhu kwaziwa nangokuthi i-geomorphometry. Ekusetshenzisweni kwanamuhla, lokhu kuhilela ukukhiqizwa kwedatha yokuphakama ngendlela yedijithali (i-DEM). Kuvame ukucatshangwa ukuthi kuhlanganisa ukubonakaliswa okucacile kwendawo ebalazweni ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene zokufanekisa ukukhululeka kwe-cartographic, kuhlanganise nemigqa ye-contour, ama-hypsometric tints, nokukhishwa kwe-relief shading.