What does DTED stand for?

DTED stands for Digital Terrain Elevation Data, which refers to a dataset that represents the Earth's surface elevation in a digital format. This data is crucial for various applications including mapping, modeling, and simulations in fields such as aviation, military operations, and geographic information systems (GIS). The primary characteristic of DTED is that it provides consistent and precise elevation data that can be used for analyzing terrain, understanding elevation changes, and planning routes for navigation or transportation.

The other options do not accurately describe the established terminology or focal point of DTED. For instance, "Digital Terrain Elevation Designation" implies a categorization or classification aspect not inherent to the standard definition of DTED. Similarly, "Digital Topographic Elevation Data" and "Digital Terrain Exploration Data" are not commonly recognized terms within the context of elevation datasets, making "Digital Terrain Elevation Data" the most accurate and widely accepted definition.