What is a digital elevation model (DEM)?

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  What is the difference between lidar data and a digital elevation model (DEM)?

  Light detection and ranging (lidar) data are collected from aircraft using sensors that detect the reflections of a pulsed laser beam. The reflections are recorded as millions of individual points, collectively called a “point cloud,” that represent the 3D positions of objects on the surface including buildings, vegetation, and the ground. Digital elevation models (DEMs) are one of many products...

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  What is the difference between lidar data and a digital elevation model (DEM)?

  Light detection and ranging (lidar) data are collected from aircraft using sensors that detect the reflections of a pulsed laser beam. The reflections are recorded as millions of individual points, collectively called a “point cloud,” that represent the 3D positions of objects on the surface including buildings, vegetation, and the ground. Digital elevation models (DEMs) are one of many products...

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  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...

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  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...

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  What is the vertical accuracy of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) DEMs?

  As of 2022, the absolute vertical accuracy of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) 1/3 arc-second seamless DEM product within the conterminous United States is approximately 0.82 meters root mean square error (RMSE), based on a comparison to almost 25,000 NOAA National Geodetic Survey OPUS points. Accuracy has improved from a RMSE of 1.55 meters tested in 2013, due to the addition of lidar projects...

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  What is the vertical accuracy of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) DEMs?

  As of 2022, the absolute vertical accuracy of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) 1/3 arc-second seamless DEM product within the conterminous United States is approximately 0.82 meters root mean square error (RMSE), based on a comparison to almost 25,000 NOAA National Geodetic Survey OPUS points. Accuracy has improved from a RMSE of 1.55 meters tested in 2013, due to the addition of lidar projects...

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  Where can I find 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) product updates and status maps?

  3D Elevation Program (3DEP) product updates and status maps are available at these sites: Updates The National Map Data Delivery News Subscribe to Simple Notification Services to receive emails regarding changes to the status of The National Map Services Status Maps The National Map Download Client – Click “Show” below each elevation product LidarExplorer – Lidar point cloud only DEM Availability...

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  Where can I find 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) product updates and status maps?

  3D Elevation Program (3DEP) product updates and status maps are available at these sites: Updates The National Map Data Delivery News Subscribe to Simple Notification Services to receive emails regarding changes to the status of The National Map Services Status Maps The National Map Download Client – Click “Show” below each elevation product LidarExplorer – Lidar point cloud only DEM Availability...

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• Multimedia
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• Publications
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  June 3, 2019

  The National Map—New data delivery homepage, advanced viewer, lidar visualization

  As one of the cornerstones of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Geospatial Program, The National Map is a collaborative effort among the USGS and other Federal, State, and local partners to improve and deliver topographic information for the Nation. The National Map is featuring direct links to new and improved GIS data access utilities on a refreshed data delivery homepage at https://w

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  National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program, The National Map - Data Delivery

  May 16, 2019

  The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting California's Economy

  IntroductionCalifornia faces unprecedented challenges presented by shifting weather patterns that are defining a “new normal.” The result has been extreme weather events, prolonged drought, flooding, and debris flows. These conditions drive severe tree mortality, increase wildfire occurrence and intensity, reduce water availability, and hasten subsidence in groundwater basins. Collectively, these

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  Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program

  August 2, 2017

  The National Map seamless digital elevation model specifications

  This specification documents the requirements and standards used to produce the seamless elevation layers for The National Map of the United States. Seamless elevation data are available for the conterminous United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. territories, in three different resolutions—1/3-arc-second, 1-arc-second, and 2-arc-second. These specifications include requirements and standards

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  Core Science Systems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS), National Geospatial Technical Operations Center, NGP Standards and Specifications

  November 7, 2016

  The 3D Elevation Program and America's infrastructure

  Infrastructure—the physical framework of transportation, energy, communications, water supply, and other systems—and construction management—the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to end—are critical to the Nation’s prosperity. The American Society of Civil Engineers has warned that, despite the importance of the Nation’s infrastructure, it is in fair to poor c

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  National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program

  April 14, 2016

  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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  Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program

  January 11, 2016

  USGS lidar science strategy—Mapping the technology to the science

  Summary The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) utilizes light detection and ranging (lidar) and enabling technologies to support many science research activities. Lidar-derived metrics and products have become a fundamental input to complex hydrologic and hydraulic models, flood inundation models, fault detection and geologic mapping, topographic and land-surface mapping, landslide and volcano hazards

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  Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program

  October 21, 2015

  1-Meter Digital Elevation Model specification

  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 States), Ha

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  Core Science Systems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science (CEGIS), National Geospatial Technical Operations Center, NGP Standards and Specifications
• News
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  October 23, 2019

  USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM) Switching to New Distribution Format

  In support of ongoing efforts to provide efficient, cloud ready, open data formats, the U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Program is...

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  February 7, 2019

  USGS 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud Now Available as Amazon Public Dataset

  The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is excited to announce the availability of a new way to access and process lidar point cloud data from the 3DEP...

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  August 8, 2018

  New Elevation Map Service Available From the USGS 3D Elevation Program

  The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) announces the availability of a new dynamic map service.

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  June 26, 2018

  The 3D Elevation Program Distributing Lidar Data in LAZ Format

  In support of ongoing efforts to provide efficient, cloud ready, open data formats for the use of lidar data, the USGS National Geospatial Program and...

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  May 23, 2018

  Keeping Current with Map Services Made Easier

  The National Map provides a new Simple Notification Service and has new URLs for some of its thematic cartographic map services.

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  September 5, 2016

  EarthWord–Lidar

  It’s not a radar for liars, it’s this week’s Earthword...

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