Most elevation maps of Ghana are often in 2D, limiting the full appreciation of terrain variation and topographic depth. For this project, I wanted to push beyond that by creating a more immersive and visually detailed representation using QGIS and Blender.

I started by downloading Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data from DIVA-GIS, which provided a good resolution for visualizing Ghana’s varied terrain. In QGIS, I processed and styled the DEM applying color gradients to emphasize elevation differences—this step helped build a solid foundation for the 3D effect.

To take it further, I exported the terrain into Blender, where I gave it full 3D depth and applied lighting and camera effects to enhance realism. This approach not only made the elevation differences more noticeable but also gave the map a sense of dimensionality that 2D maps often lack.

The result is a map that’s not just informative, but also visually engaging. It gives users a better understanding of how Ghana’s topography changes across regions, and what those changes might mean in terms of development, infrastructure, or even climate impact.