Digital Surface Model or Digital Elevation Model is a standard format that refers to geospatial features generated with UAV mapping systems. Both data products deliver different elevation values as each model uses different methodologies. Here I will not discuss the differences between DSM and DEM. I will show you how to clip the DSM or DEM data using a polygon in QGIS. I have a DSM file that covers a large area in the following example. I want to cut or clip this DSM on a smaller portion/area.
Steps to Clip a DSM/DEM using a polygon in QGIS
First, we need to open the DEM file into QGIS canvas. And then, we also need to open or create a new polygon that we will use to clip the DEM/DSM. As you can see below, I have the DSM as well as a polygon on top of it.
Now let’s clip the DSM with the polygon.
Open QGIS Toolbox and find the tool called Clip raster by mask layer. This tool will create a new raster layer by masking the original raster using the provided polygon layer.
Make sure you enable the option “Match the extent of the clipped raster to the extent of the mask” as well as “Keep resolution of input raster”. Click Run.
Now you should have the clipped DEM.
Thanks for reading the article, see you in the next tutorials.