Obtaining DEM Data

Digital Elevation Datasets offered by the USGS are:

Seamless Data Distribution System (SDDS)

        Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM):

 
  • 30 Meter - Data available for contiguous US, Hawaii and southern Alaska
  • 90 Meter - Extensive coverage including South America and most of North America

        National Elevation Dataset (NED):

 

  • 1/9 Arc Second - 3 meter resolution limited to select areas of Washington state

  • 1/3 Arc Second - 10 meter res. available covering most of the contiguous US

  • 1 Arc Second - 30 meter res. for all of the United States

  • 2 Arc Second - Dataset specific for the state of Alaska
 

Details:
 

  • SRTM and NED data is offered in Gridfloat, BIL, ArcGRID, and TIFF formats.

  • You can define a custom, seamless area to download.

  • The interface allows you to display various GIS layers to aid in the selection process.

  • Data can be downloaded in files up to 100MB maximum size.

  • Downloads are free (no cost).

to obtain DEM data from USGS Seamless Map
Need additional help obtaining DEM data from USGS Seamless Map?

 

Geographic Data Download - EROS Data Center

 

Details:
 

  • Specific 1:250K DEMs in native *.dem format.

  • Graphical US map makes locating an area easy.

  • Two downloadable options:

    • Compressed - Between 1 and 2 MB in size.

    • Uncompressed - Approximately 9 MB size.

  • Free downloads (zero cost).

to obtain 1:250K (~90m) DEM data from USGS Geographic Data Download
Need additional help obtaining a DEM from USGS Geographic Data Download?

 

Details:
 

  • Terrain data offered:

    • USGS 7.5 minutes - 1:24K scale (~30 m res.)     <Covers all of contiguous United States>

    • USGS 1 degree - 1:250K scale (~90 m res.)       <Hawaii and Alaska only>

  • Data available only in *.dem format.

  • Graphical US map makes locating an area easy.

  • Free downloads (zero cost).

to obtain DEM data from WebGIS

 

Details:
 

  • Terrain data offered:

    • 10 Meter SDTS (Spatial Data Transfer Standard)     <Limited coverage of US>

    • 30 Meter SDTS                                                               <Covers all of contiguous United States and Hawaii>

  • Limit of 10 quads per download.

  • Graphical US map makes locating an area easy.

  • Free downloads of SDTS (zero cost).

  • The following types of formats are also available at a COST:

    • USGS DEM

    • XVY ACSII Grid

    • Arc ACSII Grid

    • DXF Mesh

to obtain SDTS DEM data from MapMart

 

Details:
 

  • Terrain data offered:

    • 10 Meter SDTS                              <Limited coverage of US>

    • 30 Meter SDTS                              <Extensive coverage of US>

  • Must have known decimal coordinates (latitude, longitude) of area in order to access data.

  • Free downloads of SDTS (zero cost).

to obtain SDTS DEM data from ATDI Mapping Department

GIS Data Depot contains a large amount of useful information.  There is some select data that is offered free.  Other data may be acquired at a small fee.

 
 

Details:

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data:
 

  • Two resolutions:

    • 10 Meter resolution

    • 30 Meter resolution

  • SDTS format.

  • Extensive coverage of U.S.

  • Free downloads.

  • Data offered free may also be available in other formats at a cost.

to obtain SDTS DEM data from GIS Data Depot
The USGS GNIS and USGS Map Locator are useful tools to determine the name of the DEM you need.
Need additional help using USGS Map Locator?
Need additional help using the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
Need additional help obtaining DEM data from GIS Data Depot?

 

Details:

DEM data:
 

  • Two scales:

    • 1:250K

    • 1:24K

  • Numerous formats:

    • *.dem

    • ESRI GRID

    • ESRI BIL w/HDR

    • *.dted

  • Downloads must be purchased.

to obtain DEM data from Land Info

 

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