Which term denotes the topographic data used to portray terrain surfaces?

• A. Residual Stress
• B. Relief
• C. Redundancy
• D. Rehabilitation

Answer: (B)

Topographic data that portrays terrain surfaces focuses on how the land’s elevations and features are represented. Relief is the term that captures that idea, describing the variations in elevation and the three‑dimensional shape of the terrain on maps and models. In civil engineering, relief helps visualize hills, valleys, ridges, and other features that influence drainage, earthwork, and foundation design, so it’s the best fit for this concept. Residual stress refers to leftover internal stresses in a material, not terrain depiction. Redundancy means having backup capacity, not terrain representation. Rehabilitation is about restoring function after damage, not mapping terrain.