Ground level

Ground level (often abbreviated as GOK ) or ground surface is the term used in geosciences and geotechnical engineering for the natural or anthropogenic surface of the earth on dry land . The top edge of the terrain serves as a reference surface for various depth measurements, such as the depth in geology and mining or the distance from the ground in hydrogeology . In mining, the upper edge of the terrain is also referred to as the surface area. In the area of ​​the waterfront, the corridor distance becomes 0 and the upper edge of the terrain merges into a water surface . The distance between the top of the terrain and a height reference surface (e.g. the mean sea level applicable on site ) along a plumb line is the terrain height at the intersection between the top of the terrain and the plumb line.

The top of the terrain and the surface of the water form the surface modeled in a digital terrain model - in contrast to the digital surface model , which includes buildings and trees.

In the context of building law, the upper edge of the site is the line of intersection between the solid surface of the earth and the outer surfaces of a building - the correct designation under building law is the surface of the site .