What data sources are used to produce the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) DEMs?
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is in the process of collecting high-quality lidar and IfSAR (for Alaska) coverage for all of the United States and its territories. As this new data becomes available, legacy Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are being systematically replaced with high-resolution DEMs produced almost entirely from the lidar and ifsar data.
Legacy DEMs were produced from sources that include older lidar technology, cartographic contours derived from hand-drawn topographic maps, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data.
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3D Elevation Program—Virtual USA in 3D 3D Elevation Program—Virtual USA in 3D
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) uses a laser system called ‘lidar’ (light detection and ranging) to create a virtual reality map of the Nation that is very accurate. 3D maps have many uses with new uses being discovered all the time.
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Vicki Lukas, J. M. Stoker
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In January 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Technical Operations Center began producing the 1-Meter Digital Elevation Model data product. This new product was developed to provide high resolution bare-earth digital elevation models from light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data and other elevation data collected over the conterminous United States (lower 48...
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Updated Date: July 24, 2025