What is the most effective way to visualize elevation change along a polyline?

Using a profile is the most effective way to visualize elevation change along a polyline because it provides a clear, linear representation of how elevation varies along a specific path. A profile graph typically displays elevation on the vertical axis and distance along the polyline on the horizontal axis, allowing for a straightforward interpretation of steepness and elevation changes. This method allows users to easily see peaks, valleys, and overall terrain characteristics along the designated route, making it particularly useful for applications such as planning hiking trails, analyzing engineering routes, or understanding watershed dynamics.

Contour maps do depict elevation changes but do so across a wider area and do not provide a specific view along a single polyline. Shaded relief maps can convey a sense of elevation through color and shading but lack the precise quantitative detail offered by a profile. Although digital terrain models are valuable for understanding terrain in three dimensions, they involve a more complex visualization that may not focus specifically on the elevation changes along a singular polyline as effectively as a profile does.