3D Terrain Feature Identification Guide

When learning something new, I am best able to understand something when I can see it in front of me. When first learning how to read a topography map, I was frustrated trying to make sense of the mess of squiggly lines on the page in front of me. It wasn't until I discovered what contour lines really are that I was able to intuitively decipher the terrain depicted on the map.

When it became time for me to teach the same class, I knew that in order to get this idea to "click", I needed to have some sort of physical model to show and pass around. My prototype at the time was a piece of styrofoam that I carved by hand and drew on with a sharpie. It served its purpose, but as time has passed it has begun to degrade. With access to the software and tools I have now, I decided to make something a little better.

More information about terrain feature identification:
https://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/land_navigation_map_reading/identify-major-minor-terr.shtml