DIGITAL SURFACE MODEL

DSM Software for Digital Surface Models

STREAM opens Digital Surface Models — the top surface including buildings, canopy and structures — and lets you measure, compute volumes and analyze them like any elevation grid, straight from GeoTIFF or a point cloud.

What is a DSM (Digital Surface Model)?

A Digital Surface Model (DSM) represents the top of everything on the ground — terrain plus buildings, trees and other objects. It differs from a DTM (bare earth) and is often what you get first from photogrammetry or LiDAR.

DSMs are ideal for volumes of piles and structures, line-of-sight and canopy work. STREAM builds a DSM from all points of a cloud, or opens one directly.

DSM Software in STREAM

Open or build a DSM

Open a DSM from GeoTIFF, or build one from all points of a LAS/LAZ cloud on import.

Volumes on the surface

Measure stockpile and cut/fill volumes on the surface model, above buildings and piles.

Surface analysis

Run slope, viewshed, line-of-sight and sun & shadow on the DSM — where the top surface matters.

Compare with a DTM

Use a DSM alongside a bare-earth DTM to separate objects from terrain.

Supported formats

GeoTIFF
DSM elevation raster
LAS / LAZ
Point cloud STREAM turns into a DSM (all points)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a DSM and a DTM?

A DSM (Digital Surface Model) includes buildings and vegetation — the top surface. A DTM (Digital Terrain Model) is bare earth. STREAM opens and builds both.

Can STREAM build a DSM from a point cloud?

Yes. STREAM builds a surface model from all points of a LAS/LAZ cloud on import, and a bare-earth model from ground-classified points.

Can I compute volumes on a DSM?

Yes. Stockpile and cut/fill volumes work on the surface model, which is ideal for piles and structures.

Try DSM in STREAM

Free beta for Windows x64. Works fully offline with GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ and DXF.

Download STREAM free