Research Guides: GIS Data: Elevation Data

Geospatial data for research related to elevation (e.g., LiDAR, bathymetry, digital elevation models, slope, etc.) Coverage includes raw data (point cloud) and derived (raster) surface layers.

Overview of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and LiDAR

What are Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)?
A short, technical description of DEMs from USGS.
What is LiDAR data and where can I download it?
A short, technical description of light ranging and detection (LiDAR) data from USGS.

Global Elevation Data

USGS EarthExplorer
Query and download satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products through the U.S. Geological Survey.
SRTM 90m Digital Elevation Data
CGIAR provides Space Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 90m digital elevation data for the entire world. The data has been processed to fill in any data voids that might have existed with the initial data from NASA.
Open Topography
Provides online access to high-resolution (meter to sub-meter scale), Earth science-oriented, topography data acquired with lidar and other technologies.

U.S. Elevation Data

United States Interagency Elevation Inventory
Nationwide listing of known high-accuracy topographic and bathymetric data for the United States and its territories.

Canada Elevation Data

GeoGratis
Site contains free remote sensing imagery, elevation data, and other geospatial data for Canada.

Additional Resources

Additional resources are available in our Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers guide and Aerial Photos & Satellite Imagery guide.