Located in Delhi its primary function is research and development of techniques to evaluate terrains and assess mobility potential of inaccessible areas.
The DTRL's origin dates back to 1964 when a Terrain Evaluation Cell (TEC) was set up as a unit of the DRDO.
The cell's objectives were to develop techniques needed for evaluating terrain and assessing the mobility potential in inaccessible areas.
DTRL was notified as self accounting unit on 17 September 1988 To become a technological leader in producing high resolution terrain intelligence products for defence applications.
DTRL is one of the services organization in DRDO; its primary aim is to provide trafficability maps for the Indian Army.