# External DEM

**URL:** <https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344>\
**Category:** PIX4Dsurvey\
**Created:** [February 2, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344 "2023-02-02T18:37:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![shildebrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@shildebrand](https://community.pix4d.com/u/shildebrand)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344/1 "2023-02-02T18:37:12Z")

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I am looking to utilize pix4dsurvey features on my own DEMs. Cannot seem to find the proper work flow or format to import these files.  
I figured as the only place a see an option to import a .tif was in matic.

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**Author:** ![Heydi\_Contreras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cc9497/32.png) [@Heydi\_Contreras](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Heydi_Contreras)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 9:54am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344/2 "2023-02-07T09:54:00Z")

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Hi @shildebrand

Welcome to Pix4D Community!

> Cannot seem to find the proper work flow or format to import these files.

It is not possible to import a TIF as input on PIX4Dsurvey. But if you have the point cloud generated on PIX4Dmatic, PIX4Dmapper, or any other third-party software, you can import it on PIX4Dsurvey and generate a TIN. In the latest version of PIX4Dsurvey, you can even export the TIN as GeoTIFF.  
For more information, please refer to:

> **[TIN - PIX4Dsurvey](https://support.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046785131-TIN-PIX4Dsurvey)**
>
> Outlier Filter
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> Terrain filter
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> Grid of points
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> TIN
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> Contour lines
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> The TIN (Triangular Irregular Network) is a seamless set of triangles representing a surface. In PIX4Dsurvey, the TIN...

I hope this information helps you.

have a very nice day!

best regards

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**Author:** ![shildebrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@shildebrand](https://community.pix4d.com/u/shildebrand)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344/3 "2023-02-07T14:03:26Z")

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That’s why the question is in matic. I have DEMS I understand survey cannot accept DEMS but matic shows tif as an accepted format so I assumed getting a tif into matic would be the only option to end up in survey.

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**Author:** ![Nate\_Moore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/pix4d/user_avatar/community.pix4d.com/nate_moore/32/779_2.png) [@Nate\_Moore](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Nate_Moore)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344/4 "2023-05-31T12:00:56Z")

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Hi @shildebrand ,

Is the DEM that you want to import a different time period of the same site so that you can do a volume comparison? Or do you have a different use case in mind?

thanks,  
Nate

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**Author:** ![shildebrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@shildebrand](https://community.pix4d.com/u/shildebrand)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/external-dem/25344/5 "2023-05-31T12:16:56Z")

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I have many cases in mind ranging from volume comparison to utilizing the features such as feature classifications and smart edge tin surface creation. I have hundreds of DEMs on my local server that I use daily for planning design and analysis. having these features available for all of my DEMs would be invaluable to me.