The 3D view in Land offers a more realistic representation of the terrain, ideal for planning routes with precision and better understanding the geographical environment. Thanks to the combination of a 2D map with relief data (DEM), Land is capable of transforming any flat map into a three-dimensional visualisation.

In this guide you will learn how to activate the 3D view, how to navigate it and which additional tools you can use to take full advantage of its possibilities.

Prerequisites

For the 3D visualisation to work properly, you need two maps: the 2D map and the relief map (DEM). 

Land will automatically open the default online relief map. Without this data, the 3D view will not display elevation or terrain volume.

Quick tip: If you don’t want to use the online relief or don’t yet have relief data, you can download it for free from this page 3D Reliefs

How to activate the 3D view

You can activate 3D mode by clicking the 3D button located on the toolbar. Doing so changes the map from an overhead (2D) view to a three-dimensional perspective of the terrain.

Navigation in 3D mode

In 3D view, you can freely and precisely explore the terrain using the mouse or the 3D gadget.

Mouse controls

• Left button: pan the terrain.
• Right button: rotate the view.
• Mouse wheel: zoom in or out.
• Hold mouse wheel: move the 3D view up or down quickly.

3D Gadget

Land includes a special gadget that makes 3D navigation easier. 

With it you can:

• Move the terrain without using the mouse buttons.
• Rotate the view more precisely.
• Control zoom quickly and comfortably.

Tip: If the map remains rotated after returning to 2D view, use the ‘North’ button to restore the original orientation.

Options and tools to improve 3D view

Height exaggeration

You can vertically exaggerate the relief to highlight subtle slopes. This option is available in the 3D configuration panel and is useful for smooth or low-contrast terrain.

Terrain shading

Shading generates artificial lighting on the relief, which improves depth perception. It can be toggled from the 3D display options or from the menu: View>3D relief shading

Display modes

In 3D view, Land offers several display modes to suit your needs:

• Map: shows the map as in 2D, projected onto the 3D relief. Ideal for viewing routes with the original colours and details.
  
  
• Smooth surface: represents the terrain with a continuous smoothed surface, highlighting slopes without showing the underlying grid.
  
  
• Wireframe: shows only the relief grid mesh, useful for analysing terrain accuracy and geometry.
  
  
• Wireframe + smooth surface: combines the grid mesh with the smoothed surface, offering a balance between detail and clarity.
  
  
• Wireframe + map: combines the grid mesh with the original map, allowing you to see terrain structure without losing 2D map information.
  
  

Quick tip: Switching between modes helps analyse different terrain aspects: relief, geometry and map details.

Note: Display modes only affect how the terrain is shown; map data remains unchanged.

Return to 2D view

You can return to the classic 2D view at any time using the same 3D button. 

If the map remains rotated, remember to click the ‘North’ button to restore north orientation.

Conclusion

The 3D view in Land is a powerful tool for planning and analysing routes in real environments. Make sure you have relief data loaded and experiment with the different display options to adapt the environment to your needs.