The importance of different surface geometries and thereby the need for versatile surface identificationby describing a number of different surface features is emphasized. A set of topographical parameters forthe description of the amplitude and spatial and hybrid properties of surfaces was utilized for a versatilethree-dimensional surface characterization of sol−gel samples with different topographies. The imagedata were measured by atomic force microscopy. The results demonstrate the power of the roughnessparameters to identify surfaces according to their specific characteristics. An example is also given abouthow certain surface topographical properties may control the material reactivity.