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Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) is a technology used to create high-resolution models of ground elevation with a vertical accuracy of 10 centimeters (4 inches). Lidar equipment, which includes a laser scanner, a Global Positioning System (GPS), and an Inertial Navigation System (INS), is typically mounted on a small aircraft. The laser scanner transmits brief pulses of light to the ground surface. Those pulses are reflected or scattered back and their travel time is used to calculate the distance between the laser scanner and the ground.
Lidar data is initially collected as a “point cloud” of individual points reflected from everything on the surface, including structures and vegetation. To produce a “bare earth” Digital Elevation Model (DEM), structures and vegetation are stripped away.
The USGS is in the process of collecting lidar data for all of the U.S. and its territories (status map). Due to high cloud cover and remote locations, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IfSAR)—rather than lidar—is being used in Alaska.
The National Map is the primary repository for USGS base geospatial data. Access lidar data using:
Learn more:
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...
Digital elevation data for the United States and its territories are available through The National Map Downloader. Click the “Help” link at the top of the page for detailed instructions on how to find and download data. There's a separate site for The National Map Services. Downloads and map services are free; no account is required. The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) products and services available...
Elevation products are summarized on our 3-D Elevation (3DEP) Products and Services website. View detailed availability maps (status graphics) through several sites: The National Map Download Client – Click “Show” below each elevation product Lidar Availability Viewer - Lidar point cloud only LidarExplorer – Lidar point cloud only DEM Availability Viewer - 1 meter DEMs only Learn more: What is...
Lidar point cloud of Los Angeles CA post-wildfire. Lidar was collected in winter 2025, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. Due to the Palisades wildfire, ground conditions are not to be considered normal given the devastation that took place
Lidar point cloud of Los Angeles CA post-wildfire. Lidar was collected in winter 2025, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. Due to the Palisades wildfire, ground conditions are not to be considered normal given the devastation that took place
3D view of Theodore Roosevelt National Park from 3DEP Lidar derived DEM USGS_OPR_McKenzie_County_2014_QL2_Lidar
3D view of Theodore Roosevelt National Park from 3DEP Lidar derived DEM USGS_OPR_McKenzie_County_2014_QL2_Lidar
Lidar point cloud image of Cedar Key, Florida, an area that experienced severe impacts from Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. The lowest elevations are shaded in blue, while the highest elevations (the tops of trees and buildings) range from orange to red.
Lidar point cloud image of Cedar Key, Florida, an area that experienced severe impacts from Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. The lowest elevations are shaded in blue, while the highest elevations (the tops of trees and buildings) range from orange to red.
Lidar Point Cloud of Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming with a brown to gray color ramp symbology with brown representing low elevation, and gray representing high elevation
Lidar Point Cloud of Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming with a brown to gray color ramp symbology with brown representing low elevation, and gray representing high elevation
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
Geiger mode 3DEP lidar point cloud over Chicago, IL from 3DEP Project USGS Lidar Point Cloud IL 4County Cook 2017
Geiger mode 3DEP lidar point cloud over Chicago, IL from 3DEP Project USGS Lidar Point Cloud IL 4County Cook 2017
USGS scientists Mark Bauer and Matt Burgess preparing a UAS mounted with a lidar sensor for flight at Denver Colorado’s City Park
During the summer of 2019 NUSO researchers evaluated the viability of using UAS platforms and data collection sensors to characterize and evaluate an urban forest.
USGS scientists Mark Bauer and Matt Burgess preparing a UAS mounted with a lidar sensor for flight at Denver Colorado’s City Park
During the summer of 2019 NUSO researchers evaluated the viability of using UAS platforms and data collection sensors to characterize and evaluate an urban forest.
By processing lidar point clouds (left) to bare earth DEMs (right), the vegetation is stripped away to reveal past landslides and steep slopes at risk of failure masked by forested canopies. In dense forests, landslides--especially old landslides--might be invisible on aerial images and hard to detect from the ground.
By processing lidar point clouds (left) to bare earth DEMs (right), the vegetation is stripped away to reveal past landslides and steep slopes at risk of failure masked by forested canopies. In dense forests, landslides--especially old landslides--might be invisible on aerial images and hard to detect from the ground.
This image is a lidar point cloud of the Statue of Liberty in New York with a blue to red color ramp symbology with blue representing low elevation, and red representing high elevation
This image is a lidar point cloud of the Statue of Liberty in New York with a blue to red color ramp symbology with blue representing low elevation, and red representing high elevation
A 3D dimensional oblique visualization made by 3DEP lidar point cloud of the Washington Memorial, Washington D.C.
A 3D dimensional oblique visualization made by 3DEP lidar point cloud of the Washington Memorial, Washington D.C.
The National Elevation Dataset (NED) is the primary elevation data product produced and distributed by the USGS National 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The NED provides seamless raster elevation data of the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the island territories.
The National Elevation Dataset (NED) is the primary elevation data product produced and distributed by the USGS National 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The NED provides seamless raster elevation data of the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the island territories.
This video provides a visual example of how airborne LiDAR (Light D
etection And Ranging) imagery penetrates dense forest cover to reveal
an active fault line not detectable with conventional aerial
photography. The video shows an aerial perspective of the range front
Mt. Tallac fault, which is one of five active faults that traverse
This video provides a visual example of how airborne LiDAR (Light D
etection And Ranging) imagery penetrates dense forest cover to reveal
an active fault line not detectable with conventional aerial
photography. The video shows an aerial perspective of the range front
Mt. Tallac fault, which is one of five active faults that traverse
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...
Digital elevation data for the United States and its territories are available through The National Map Downloader. Click the “Help” link at the top of the page for detailed instructions on how to find and download data. There's a separate site for The National Map Services. Downloads and map services are free; no account is required. The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) products and services available...
Elevation products are summarized on our 3-D Elevation (3DEP) Products and Services website. View detailed availability maps (status graphics) through several sites: The National Map Download Client – Click “Show” below each elevation product Lidar Availability Viewer - Lidar point cloud only LidarExplorer – Lidar point cloud only DEM Availability Viewer - 1 meter DEMs only Learn more: What is...
Lidar point cloud of Los Angeles CA post-wildfire. Lidar was collected in winter 2025, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. Due to the Palisades wildfire, ground conditions are not to be considered normal given the devastation that took place
Lidar point cloud of Los Angeles CA post-wildfire. Lidar was collected in winter 2025, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. Due to the Palisades wildfire, ground conditions are not to be considered normal given the devastation that took place
3D view of Theodore Roosevelt National Park from 3DEP Lidar derived DEM USGS_OPR_McKenzie_County_2014_QL2_Lidar
3D view of Theodore Roosevelt National Park from 3DEP Lidar derived DEM USGS_OPR_McKenzie_County_2014_QL2_Lidar
Lidar point cloud image of Cedar Key, Florida, an area that experienced severe impacts from Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. The lowest elevations are shaded in blue, while the highest elevations (the tops of trees and buildings) range from orange to red.
Lidar point cloud image of Cedar Key, Florida, an area that experienced severe impacts from Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. The lowest elevations are shaded in blue, while the highest elevations (the tops of trees and buildings) range from orange to red.
Lidar Point Cloud of Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming with a brown to gray color ramp symbology with brown representing low elevation, and gray representing high elevation
Lidar Point Cloud of Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming with a brown to gray color ramp symbology with brown representing low elevation, and gray representing high elevation
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
In June 2021, eight months after the East Troublesome Fire burned over 193,000 acres in Colorado, NUSO performed UAS data collection over several of the burn scars representing different fire intensity levels and fuel types.
Geiger mode 3DEP lidar point cloud over Chicago, IL from 3DEP Project USGS Lidar Point Cloud IL 4County Cook 2017
Geiger mode 3DEP lidar point cloud over Chicago, IL from 3DEP Project USGS Lidar Point Cloud IL 4County Cook 2017
USGS scientists Mark Bauer and Matt Burgess preparing a UAS mounted with a lidar sensor for flight at Denver Colorado’s City Park
During the summer of 2019 NUSO researchers evaluated the viability of using UAS platforms and data collection sensors to characterize and evaluate an urban forest.
USGS scientists Mark Bauer and Matt Burgess preparing a UAS mounted with a lidar sensor for flight at Denver Colorado’s City Park
During the summer of 2019 NUSO researchers evaluated the viability of using UAS platforms and data collection sensors to characterize and evaluate an urban forest.
By processing lidar point clouds (left) to bare earth DEMs (right), the vegetation is stripped away to reveal past landslides and steep slopes at risk of failure masked by forested canopies. In dense forests, landslides--especially old landslides--might be invisible on aerial images and hard to detect from the ground.
By processing lidar point clouds (left) to bare earth DEMs (right), the vegetation is stripped away to reveal past landslides and steep slopes at risk of failure masked by forested canopies. In dense forests, landslides--especially old landslides--might be invisible on aerial images and hard to detect from the ground.
This image is a lidar point cloud of the Statue of Liberty in New York with a blue to red color ramp symbology with blue representing low elevation, and red representing high elevation
This image is a lidar point cloud of the Statue of Liberty in New York with a blue to red color ramp symbology with blue representing low elevation, and red representing high elevation
A 3D dimensional oblique visualization made by 3DEP lidar point cloud of the Washington Memorial, Washington D.C.
A 3D dimensional oblique visualization made by 3DEP lidar point cloud of the Washington Memorial, Washington D.C.
The National Elevation Dataset (NED) is the primary elevation data product produced and distributed by the USGS National 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The NED provides seamless raster elevation data of the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the island territories.
The National Elevation Dataset (NED) is the primary elevation data product produced and distributed by the USGS National 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The NED provides seamless raster elevation data of the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the island territories.
This video provides a visual example of how airborne LiDAR (Light D
etection And Ranging) imagery penetrates dense forest cover to reveal
an active fault line not detectable with conventional aerial
photography. The video shows an aerial perspective of the range front
Mt. Tallac fault, which is one of five active faults that traverse
This video provides a visual example of how airborne LiDAR (Light D
etection And Ranging) imagery penetrates dense forest cover to reveal
an active fault line not detectable with conventional aerial
photography. The video shows an aerial perspective of the range front
Mt. Tallac fault, which is one of five active faults that traverse