# Reading and rendering a digital elevation model (DEM) in VTK

**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/reading-and-rendering-a-digital-elevation-model-dem-in-vtk/9536
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** python
**Created:** [October 6, 2022, 11:05am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/reading-and-rendering-a-digital-elevation-model-dem-in-vtk/9536 "2022-10-06T11:05:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![llobera](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/llobera/32/5540_2.png) [@llobera](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/llobera)
#### Post date: [October 6, 2022, 11:05am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/reading-and-rendering-a-digital-elevation-model-dem-in-vtk/9536/1 "2022-10-06T11:05:16Z")

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I have a few questions regarding how to **best** generate a 3D rendering of digital elevation model (DEM).

1. Is there a way to access via python bindings the `GDALRasterReader()` function? This functionality appears in VTK but I cannot get access to it. My DEM is a geotiff and it would be ideal to use it. If this is not possible, how would I read information contained in this image (elevation information at regular intervals)?
2. What is the best way to generate a 3D model once geotiff information has been read? How can I do a Delaunay triangulation so that I get a surface oriented correctly (with y being the elevation)?

Thanks