This web service depicts raster contour lines that are generated on-the-fly from 3-ft. NC Dept. of Public Safety DEMs using the ArcGIS contour function. They are created for visualization and have been smoothed for a more cartographic-pleasing appearance. These contour lines do not have elevation values attached to them. However, if displayed in a GIS application, an "identify" on the map will display the elevation value of the contour based on the 3-ft. DEM source. This contour layer can be overlaid on a map and provide information regarding terrain without obscuring the underlying data. The contour interval is 1 ft.The DEMs these raster contours are based on can be downloaded from the Direct Data Downloads section on the NCOneMap.gov website. Unsmoothed vector contour lines can also be downloaded. Do not use the map to download the raster contours (JPG, PNG, etc).

The NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads allows for the download of pre-packaged popular data sets imagery, parcels, contour lines, elevation data (DEMs) and address points, by county.

For more information related to these data, please see:

 Imagery
 Parcels
 Contours/Elevation
 Addresses

A digital elevation model (DEM) for North Carolina. The grid cell size is 3 feet. Data used to create the DEM was derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

NOTE: To download contours DO NOT use the map. Instead, click the Download button and then click "Download Contours by County."These contour lines were generated from 20-foot Digital Elevation Models created from legacy LiDAR data. Newer LiDAR data exists on the NC Department of Public Safety's Spatial Data Download website, although no contours based on the updated LiDAR have been created yet.

A shaded relief map derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) with a 3ft. grid cell size. A vertical exaggeration factor of 3 used for visual effect. Data used to create the DEMs was derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

A shaded relief map that provides a clear picture of the topography of the State. The Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) that support this service have a 3ft. grid cell size. They were derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management. More information about the LiDAR data can be found on the North Carolina LiDAR website.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads section of the website. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

Download US Geological Survey topographic maps in multiple formats, scales, and years, including 1:24,000-scale topo maps, using the USGS topoView web application.Learn how to use topoView: https://youtu.be/UCTIvQqVr4E

A layer showing degrees of slope derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) with a 3ft. grid cell size. Steepness is represented in degrees. The range of values is 0 degrees (flat) to 90 degrees (vertical). Data used to create the DEMs was derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

An aspect map (slope direction) derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) with a 3ft. grid cell size. Compass direction is rendered using the following colors: red (north), magenta (northwest), blue (west), cyan (southwest), light cyan (south), light green (southeast), light orange (east), orange (northeast). Data used to create the DEMs was derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

A digital elevation model (DEM) for North Carolina with a grid cell size of 3 feet. This is a version of the NC Digital Elevation Model resource that has been optimized for viewing purposes. This is achieved by applying an equalized stretch to the data so that differences in elevation are easier to see. However, this results in a 3-band image which means that the data values only range from 0-255 rather than the actual elevation values. Therefore, this service should not be used for any type of analysis. If analysis is desired, use the aforementioned NC Digital Elevation Model resource.Data used to create the DEM was derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

A hillshade map derived from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) with a 3ft. grid cell size. A vertical exaggeration factor of 3 used for visual effect. Data used to create the DEMs was derived from LiDAR collected by the NC Floodplain Mapping Program and processed by NC Department of Public Safety - Division of Emergency Management.Download county-based DEMs from the NC OneMap Direct Data Downloads. Data should not be downloaded using the map on the dataset's item page.

This web service depicts raster contour lines that are generated on-the-fly from 3-ft. NC Dept. of Public Safety DEMs using the ArcGIS contour function. They are created for visualization and have been smoothed for a more cartographic-pleasing appearance. These contour lines do not have elevation values attached to them. However, if displayed in a GIS application, an "identify" on the map will display the elevation value of the contour based on the 3-ft. DEM source. This contour layer can be overlaid on a map and provide information regarding terrain without obscuring the underlying data. The contour interval is 4 ft.The DEMs these raster contours are based on can be downloaded from the Direct Data Downloads section on the NCOneMap.gov website. Unsmoothed vector contour lines can also be downloaded. Do not use the map to download the raster contours (JPG, PNG, etc).

The NOAA Data Access Viewer (DAV) allows for the download of elevation data shared by the NC Emergency Management. Users can customize the free downloads according to needs - projection, datum, product output (raster, points, contours), format, etc.

Go to the NOAA Data Access Viewer


For more information:

Tips to use the NOAA DAV

NOAA blog posts about the DAV

NOAA blog posts about LiDAR