Abstract: Tianjin coastal plain is flat and its landform is not easy to be divided. The grain size of the sediments is fine, with poor remote sensing interpretation accuracy and field identification, which leads to weak geological map expression effect by the traditional geological survey method. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a digital representation of the topographic surface and it has 3D visual information that cannot be expressed by the general topographic map, which can truly reflect the features of the landform. The authors divided the geomorphic units of shallow sediments during the geological mapping process of Tianjin coastal plain based on DEM and the geological survey of the route, the construction of the shallow groove drilling and the sample testing. The shallow sediments can be divided into three sedimentary systems: fluvial sedimentary system, transgression sedimentary systm and deltaic sedimentary system. The fluvial sedimentary system includes several genetic types of point bar, oxbow lake, crevasse splay, natural levee, flood basin and lake marsh. And the transgression sedimentary system can be divided into beach ridge, overland fan, high tide flat, residual lagoon, while the deltaic sedimentary system includes the delta front. DEM can fully make up for the shortage of remote sensing images after the comparative analysis with the results of remote sensing interpretation of different types. Besides, DEM can also be used for the detailed genetic classification of the shallow sediments and improve the cognition about shallow geological process, which will guide the field mapping. The application of high-precision DEM data to the geological mapping on the covered areas of quaternary system can greatly improve the mapping accuracy and efficiency, and provide basic geological support for urban ecological security, territorial space planning and industrial structure layout.