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 is a separate site for The National Map Services.
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) products and services available through The National Map consist of standard digital elevation models (DEMs) at various horizontal resolutions, and elevation source (lidar) and associated datasets.
In 2020, Digital Elevation Models were migrated to the Cloud Optimized Geotiff (COG) format. This change improves product processing time and storage, and supports new and evolving cloud processing capabilities. Legacy software can read the file with no additional modifications because the underlying file format is a geotiff.
Standard elevation products are available in the following resolutions and formats:
- 2 arc-second (Alaska – 60 m) DEM - GeoTIFF
- 1 arc-second (30 m) DEM – GeoTIFF
- 1/3 arc-second (10 m) DEM - GeoTIFF
- 1/9 arc-second (3 m) DEM - IMG
- 5 meter DEM (Alaska only) - Varies
- 1 meter DEM – GeoTIFF, IMG
- Contours (1:24,000 scale) – Shapefile, FileGDB
Elevation source data are available in the following formats:
- DEM Source (OPR) – Varies
- Ifsar Digital Surface Model (DSM) – GeoTIFF
- Ifsar Orthorectified Radar Image (ORI) – GeoTIFF
- Lidar Point Cloud (LPC) – LAS, LAZ
Learn more:
Related Content
What is a digital elevation model (DEM)?
A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a representation of the bare ground (bare earth) topographic surface of the Earth excluding trees, buildings, and any other surface objects. DEMs are created from a variety of sources. USGS DEMs used to be derived primarily from topographic maps. Those are being systematically replaced with DEMs derived from high-resolution lidar and IfSAR (Alaska only) data...
How accurate are elevations generated by the Elevation Point Query Service in The National Map?
The National Map’s Elevation Point Query Service (EPQS) returns elevations that are interpolated from the 3DEP dynamic elevation service. This is a web coverage service (WCS) that includes multiple resolutions of DEMs including 1 meter resolution lidar-based DEMs where available, and 1/3 arc-second seamless DEMs. The accuracy of the elevations returned by EPQS will vary according to the source...
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...
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...
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...
Related Content
- FAQ
What is a digital elevation model (DEM)?
A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a representation of the bare ground (bare earth) topographic surface of the Earth excluding trees, buildings, and any other surface objects. DEMs are created from a variety of sources. USGS DEMs used to be derived primarily from topographic maps. Those are being systematically replaced with DEMs derived from high-resolution lidar and IfSAR (Alaska only) data...
How accurate are elevations generated by the Elevation Point Query Service in The National Map?
The National Map’s Elevation Point Query Service (EPQS) returns elevations that are interpolated from the 3DEP dynamic elevation service. This is a web coverage service (WCS) that includes multiple resolutions of DEMs including 1 meter resolution lidar-based DEMs where available, and 1/3 arc-second seamless DEMs. The accuracy of the elevations returned by EPQS will vary according to the source...
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...
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...
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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