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OpenDEM edited this page Nov 22, 2023 · 107 revisions

Terrain Data

PLEASE ADD TO THIS LIST! We are looking for any free terrain data for anywhere in the world! Please include links. Also PLEASE INCLUDE THE LICENSE IF YOU KNOW IT! If you're not sure, add a link anyway! If it's obviously NOT free data, then don't add it, please.

SRTM 90m

CGIAR-CSI's post-processed claims to be the "highest quality SRTM dataset available." More info: PROCESSED SRTM DATA VERSION 4.1

License excerpt:

DISTRIBUTION

Users are  prohibited from  any commercial,  non-free resale,  or redistribution
without explicit written permission from CIAT. Ushttp://research.bpcrc.osu.edu/GDG/gimpdem.phpers should acknowledge CIAT  as
the source used  in the creation  of any reports,  publications, new data  sets,
derived products, or services resulting from the use of this data set. CIAT also
request  reprints of  any publications  and notification  of any  redistributing
efforts.   For commercial  access to  the data,  send requests  to Andy   Jarvis
(a.jarvis@cgiar.org).

Citations should be made as follows:

Jarvis A., H.I. Reuter, A.  Nelson, E. Guevara, 2008, Hole-filled  seamless SRTM
data V4, International  Centre for Tropical  Agriculture (CIAT), available  from
http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org/.

NASADEM 30m

NASADEM global (Merged DEM Global 1 arc second) 2020 update: https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/news/release-nasadem-data-products/

"NASADEM extends the legacy of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) by improving the digital elevation model (DEM) height accuracy and data coverage as well as providing additional SRTM radar-related data products. The improvements were achieved by reprocessing the original SRTM radar signal data and telemetry data with updated algorithms and auxiliary data not available at the time of the original SRTM processing."

NASADEM are distributed in 1° by 1° tiles and consist of all land between 60° N and 56° S latitude. This accounts for about 80% of Earth’s total landmass.

SRTM 30m

NASA global 2014/15 update: http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/

Since September 2015 the whole SRTM data is available with a resolution of 30 meters worldwide and void-filled. Direct download: http://e4ftl01.cr.usgs.gov/SRTM/SRTMGL1.003/2000.02.11/

A Cartographic Perspectives article from 2010 with a useful list of sources

SRTM30 plus / SRTM15 plus

Note: this is confusing, as here SRTM30 means 30 seconds = 1 km. In the NASA article above, they are in the process of releasing a "SRTM Plus" 30 this year, which means 30 meters.

Global combined topography/bathymetry data set in 30 second / 15 second resolution, combining the following data sources:

Topography:

Bathymetry:

CleanTOPO2

Global combined topography/bathymetry data set based on SRTM30, manually edited by Tom Patterson of the US National Park Service to remove artifacts and balance the different levels of details. Specifically for use in cartography.

Viewfinder Panoramas

Global coverage cleaned and combined from multiple sources, similar to what OpenTerrain is trying to do: http://viewfinderpanoramas.org/dem3.html

EarthEnv-DEM90

A 90m worldwide dataset derived from the CGIAR and ASTER datasets. Available from http://www.earthenv.org/DEM.html

Description:

"...a compilation dataset constructed via rigorous techniques by which ASTER GDEM2 and CGIAR-CSI v4.1 products were fused into a quality-enhanced, consistent grid of elevation estimates that spans ∼91% of the globe. EarthEnv-DEM90 was assembled using methods for seamlessly merging input datasets, thoroughly filling voids, and smoothing data irregularities (e.g. those caused by DEM noise) from the approximated surface."

Research paper describing the creation methods: EarthEnv-DEM90: A nearly-global, void-free, multi-scale smoothed, 90m digital elevation model from fused ASTER and SRTM data

Search tools

Other sources

North & South America

Europe

EU-DEM (30m)

  • Austria
  • Czechia
  • ČÚZK ZABAGED® – CC BY 4.0
    • Digital Terrain Model of the Czech Republic, 5th Generation (DMR 5G) – TIN LIDAR; 0.18/0.3m mean error
    • Digital Terrain Model of the Czech Republic, 4th Generation (DMR 4G) – 5m LIDAR; 0.3/1.0 mean error
    • Digital Surface Model of the Czech Republic, 1st Generation (DMP 1G) – TIN LIDAR; 0.4/0.7 mean error
    • and other derived products (contours, INSPIRE datasets)
  • Denmark
  • Germany
  • Greenland (30m), Data License: "...acknowledge the BPRC Glacier Dynamics Research Group, Ohio State University by name in presentations and publications arising from use of these data."
  • France
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Norway
  • Slovenia
  • Digital Terrain Model and Digital Surface Model (1m). Correspondence: "In Slovenija we do not have a legislation for licensing access and usage of data. But you can use this data as a open data. It is free of charge to use modify and re-use. Please refer to source: Ministry of the environment and spatial planning, Slovenian environment agency."
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • UK
  • Sweden
  • The Netherlands

Asia

  • Taiwan

Oceania

Australia

Polar

Landcover Data

Here's a list of more landcover sources:

GlobalLandCover.com provides 30m land cover data, published by the Chinese government. license

Bathymetry Data

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