This is a tiled collection of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and is one meter resolution. The 3DEP data holdings serve as the elevation layer of The National Map, and provide foundational elevation information for earth science studies and mapping applications in the United States. Scientists and resource managers use 3DEP data for hydrologic modeling, resource monitoring, mapping and visualization, and many other applications. The elevations in this DEM represent the topographic bare-earth surface. USGS standard one-meter DEMs are produced exclusively from high resolution light detection and ranging (lidar) source data of one-meter or higher resolution. One-meter DEM surfaces are seamless within collection projects, but, not necessarily seamless across projects. The spatial reference used for tiles of the one-meter DEM within the conterminous United States (CONUS) is Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) in units of meters, and in conformance with the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). All bare earth elevation values are in meters and are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). Each tile is distributed in the UTM Zone in which it lies. If a tile crosses two UTM zones, it is delivered in both zones. The one-meter DEM is the highest resolution standard DEM offered in the 3DEP product suite. Other 3DEP products are nationally seamless DEMs in resolutions of 1/3, 1, and 2 arc seconds. These seamless DEMs were referred to as the National Elevation Dataset (NED) from about 2000 through 2015 at which time they became the seamless DEM layers under the 3DEP program and the NED name and system were retired. Other 3DEP products include five-meter DEMs in Alaska as well as various source datasets including the lidar point cloud and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (Ifsar) digital surface models and intensity images. All 3DEP products are public domain.

This is a tiled collection of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and is 1 arc-second (approximately 30 m) resolution. The elevations in this Digital Elevation Model (DEM) represent the topographic bare-earth surface. The 3DEP data holdings serve as the elevation layer of The National Map, and provide foundational elevation information for earth science studies and mapping applications in the United States. Scientists and resource managers use 3DEP data for hydrologic modeling, resource monitoring, mapping and visualization, and many other applications. The seamless 1 arc-second DEM layers are derived from diverse source data that are processed to a common coordinate system and unit of vertical measure. These data are distributed in geographic coordinates in units of decimal degrees, and in conformance with the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). All elevation values are in meters and, over the continental United States, are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). The seamless 1 arc-second DEM layer provides coverage of the conterminous United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, other territorial islands, and much of Alaska and Canada. The seamless 1 arc-second DEM is available as pre-staged current and historical products tiled in GeoTIFF format. The seamless 1 arc-second DEM layer is updated continually as new data become available in the current folder. Previously created 1 degree blocks are retained in the historical folder with an appended date suffix (YYYYMMDD) when they were produced. Other 3DEP products are nationally seamless DEMs in resolutions of 1 and 1/3 arc-second. These seamless DEMs were referred to as the National Elevation Dataset (NED) from about 2000 through 2015 at which time they became the seamless DEM layers under the 3DEP program and the NED name and system were retired. Other 3DEP products include one-meter DEMs produced exclusively from high resolution light detection and ranging (lidar) source data and five-meter DEMs in Alaska as well as various source datasets including the lidar point cloud and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (Ifsar) digital surface models and intensity images. All 3DEP products are public domain.

This is a 1 arc-second (approximately 30 m) resolution tiled collection of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) seamless data products . 3DEP data serve as the elevation layer of The National Map, and provide basic elevation information for Earth science studies and mapping applications in the United States. Scientists and resource managers use 3DEP data for global change research, hydrologic modeling, resource monitoring, mapping and visualization, and many other applications. 3DEP data compose an elevation dataset that consists of seamless layers and a high resolution layer. Each of these layers consists of the best available raster elevation data of the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, territorial islands, Mexico and Canada. 3DEP data are updated continually as new data become available. Seamless 3DEP data are derived from diverse source data that are processed to a common coordinate system and unit of vertical measure. These data are distributed in geographic coordinates in units of decimal degrees, and in conformance with the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). All elevation values are in meters and, over the conterminous United States, are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The vertical reference will vary in other areas. The elevations in these DEMs represent the topographic bare-earth surface. All 3DEP products are public domain.

This dataset includes data over Canada and Mexico as part of an international, interagency collaboration with the Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and the Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) Centre for Topographic Information-Sherbrook, Ottawa. For more details on the data provenance of this dataset, visit here and here.

Click here for a broad overview of this dataset

Important Note: This item is in mature support as of June 2021 and is no longer updated.

This map presents land cover and detailed topographic maps for the United States. It uses the USA Topographic Map service. The map includes the National Park Service (NPS) Natural Earth physical map at 1.24km per pixel for the world at small scales, i-cubed eTOPO 1:250,000-scale maps for the contiguous United States at medium scales, and National Geographic TOPO! 1:100,000 and 1:24,000-scale maps (1:250,000 and 1:63,000 in Alaska) for the United States at large scales. The TOPO! maps are seamless, scanned images of United States Geological Survey (USGS) paper topographic maps.

The maps provide a very useful basemap for a variety of applications, particularly in rural areas where the topographic maps provide unique detail and features from other basemaps.

To add this map service into a desktop application directly, go to the entry for the USA Topo Maps map service.

Tip: Here are some famous locations as they appear in this web map, accessed by including their location in the URL that launches the map:

Grand Canyon, Arizona

Golden Gate, California

The Statue of Liberty, New York

Washington DC

Canyon De Chelly, Arizona

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Area 51, Nevada

7.5 Minute Digital Elevation Model for the state of Arizona. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is the terminology adopted by the USGS to describe terrain elevation data sets in a digital raster form. The standard DEM consists of a regular array of elevations cast on a designated coordinate projection system. The DEM data are stored as a series of profiles in which the spacing of the elevations along and between each profile is in regular whole number intervals. The normal orientation of data is by columns and rows. Each column contains a series of elevations ordered from south to north with the order of the columns from west to east. The DEM is formatted as one ASCII header record (A-record), followed by a series of profile records (B-records) each of which include a short B-record header followed by a series of ASCII integer elevations per each profile. The last physical record of the DEM is an accuracy record (C-record). The DEM for 7.5-minute units correspond to the USGS 1:24000 scale topographic quadrangle map series for all of the United States and its territories. Each 7.5 minute DEM is based on 30- by 30-meter data spacing with Universal Transverse Mercator(UTM) projection. Each 7.5- by 7.5-minute block provides the same coverage as the standard USGS 7.5-minute map series.

This is the seamless 3DEP DEM dataset for the U.S. with full coverage of the 48 conterminous states, Hawaii, and U.S. territories. Alaska coverage is partially available now and is being expanded to statewide coverage as part of the Alaska Mapping Initiative. Ground spacing is approximately 10 meters north/south, but variable east/west due to convergence of meridians with latitude. Spatial metadata dataset is ingested as a separate asset USGS_3DEP_10m_metadata. The 1m dataset is ingested as USGS_3DEP_1m. Dataset uploaded by Farmers Business Network.

Culminating more than four years of processing data, NASA and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) have completed Earth's most extensive global topographic map. The mission is a collaboration among NASA, NGA, and the German and Italian space agencies. For 11 days in February 2000, the space shuttle Endeavour conducted the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) using C-Band and X-Band interferometric synthetic aperture radars to acquire topographic data over 80% of the Earth's land mass, creating the first-ever near-global data set of land elevations. This data was used to produce topographic maps (digital elevation maps) 30 times as precise as the best global maps used today. The SRTM system gathered data at the rate of 40,000 per minute over land. They reveal for the first time large, detailed swaths of Earth's topography previously obscured by persistent cloudiness. The data will benefit scientists, engineers, government agencies and the public with an ever-growing array of uses. The SRTM radar system mapped Earth from 56 degrees south to 60 degrees north of the equator. The resolution of the publicly available data is three arc-seconds (1/1,200th of a degree of latitude and longitude, about 295 feet, at Earth's equator). The final data release covers Australia and New Zealand in unprecedented uniform detail. It also covers more than 1,000 islands comprising much of Polynesia and Melanesia in the South Pacific, as well as islands in the South Indian and Atlantic oceans. SRTM data are being used for applications ranging from land use planning to "virtual" Earth exploration. Currently, the mission's homepage "http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm" provides direct access to recently obtained earth images. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission C-band data for North America and South America are available to the public. A list of complete public data set is available at "http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/dataprod.htm" The data specifications are within the following parameters: 30-meter X 30-meter spatial sampling with 16 meter absolute vertical height accuracy, 10-meter relative vertical height accuracy, and 20-meter absolute horizontal circular accuracy. From the JPL Mission Products Summary, "http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/dataprelimdescriptions.html". The primary products of the SRTM mission are the digital elevation maps of most of the Earth's surface. Visualized images of these maps are available for viewing online. Below you will find descriptions of the types of images that are being generated: Radar Image Radar Image with Color as Height Radar Image with Color Wrapped Fringes -Shaded Relief Perspective View with B/W Radar Image Overlaid Perspective View with Radar Image Overlaid, Color as Height Perspective View of Shaded Relief Perspective View with Landsat or other Image Overlaid Contour Map - B/W with Contour Lines Stereo Pair Anaglypgh The SRTM radar contained two types of antenna panels, C-band and X-band. The near-global topographic maps of Earth called Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are made from the C-band radar data. These data were processed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and are being distributed through the United States Geological Survey's EROS Data Center. Data from the X-band radar are used to create slightly higher resolution DEMs but without the global coverage of the C-band radar. The SRTM X-band radar data are being processed and distributed by the German Aerospace Center, DLR.

From https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geospatial-program/national-map :"The National Map is a suite of products and services that provide access to base geospatial information to describe the landscape of the United States and its territories. The National Map embodies 11 primary products and services and numerous applications and ancillary services. The National Map supports data download, digital and print versions of topographic maps, geospatial data services, and online viewing. Customers can use geospatial data and maps to enhance their recreational experience, make life-saving decisions, support scientific missions, and for countless other activities. Nationally consistent geospatial data from The National Map enable better policy and land management decisions and the effective enforcement of regulatory responsibilities. The National Map is easily accessible for display on the Web through such products as topographic maps and services and as downloadable data. The geographic information available from The National Map includes boundaries, elevation, geographic names, hydrography, land cover, orthoimagery, structures, and transportation. The majority of The National Map effort is devoted to acquiring and integrating medium-scale (nominally 1:24,000 scale) geospatial data for the eight base layers from a variety of sources and providing access to theresulting seamless coverages of geospatial data. The National Map also serves as the source of base mapping information for derived cartographic products, including 1:24,000 scale US Topo maps and georeferenced digital files of scanned historic topographic maps. Data sets and products from The National Map are intended for use by government, industry, and academia—focusing on geographic information system (GIS) users—as well as the public, especially in support of recreation activities. Other types of georeferenced or mapping information can be added within The National Map Viewer or brought in with The National Map data into a GIS to create specific types of maps or map views and (or) to perform modeling or analyses."

The U.S. Interagency Elevation Inventory (USIEI) displays high-accuracy topographic and bathymetric data for the United States and its territories. The project is a collaborative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This resource is a comprehensive, nationwide listing of known high-accuracy topographic data, including lidar and IfSAR, and bathymetric data, including NOAA hydrographic surveys, multibeam data, and bathymetric lidar. This zip file contains the attribute information and footprints about the data sets that are displayed in the Topographic Lidar, Topobathy Shoreline Lidar, IfSAR Data, and Bathymetric Lidar layers in the USIEI viewer. This does not include the elevation data itself. The data are provided in Esri file geodatabase format (gdb) and in the open format of OGC GeoPackage (gpkg). The data is also available via this map service: https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/USInteragencyElevationInventory/USIEIv2/MapServer. The data is updated quarterly. The information provided for each elevation data set includes many attributes such as vertical accuracy, point spacing, and date of collection. A direct link to access the data or information about the contact organization is also available through the inventory. The footprints in this data set are generalized to represent the coverage of the collection. If the exact data coverage is needed, please contact the data provider for an authoritative footprint. The fields in the gdb and gpkg are in four tables. The fields in each table are listed in the Entity Attribute Overview field.

Topography provides information about the structural controls of the Great Basin and therefore information that may be used to identify favorable structural settings for geothermal systems. Specifically, local relative topography gives information about locations of faults and fault intersections relative to mountains, valleys, or at the transitions between. As part of U.S. Geological Survey efforts to engineer features that are useful for predicting geothermal resources, we construct a detrended elevation map that emphasizes local relative topography and highlights features that geologists use for identifying geothermal systems (i.e., providing machine learning algorithms with features that may improve predictive skill by emphasizing the information used by geologists). Herein, we provide the trend and local relative elevation maps documented in DeAngelo and others (2023), describing the process of removal of the regional trend and the resulting detrended elevation maps that emphasize basin-and-range scale structural features. Regional elevation trends were estimated using a local linear regression and subtracted from a 30-m digital elevation model (DEM) of topography to create the detrended elevation (i.e., local relative topography) map; therefore one could add the detrended surface to the corresponding trend surface to construct the original DEM. In an effort to optimize the detrended surface, alternate versions were produced with different rates of smoothness resulting in three detrended elevation maps. The resulting detrended elevation maps emphasize geologic structure and relative displacement, and these products may be useful for other geologic research including mineral exploration, hydrologic research, and defining geologic provinces. References DeAngelo, J., Burns, E.R., Lindsey, C.R., and Mordensky, S.P., (2023), Detrending Great Basin elevation to identify structural patterns for identifying geothermal favorability, Geothermal Rising Conference Transactions, 47, Reno, Nevada, October 1-5, 2023.

This is a tiled collection of images with 1m pixel size from the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The 3DEP data holdings serve as the elevation layer of The National Map and provide foundational elevation information for earth science studies and mapping applications in the United States. The elevations in this DEM represent the topographic bare-earth surface. USGS standard 1m pixel size DEMs are produced exclusively from high resolution light detection and ranging (lidar) source data of images with 1m pixel size or higher resolution. 1m pixel size DEM surfaces are seamless within collection projects but not necessarily seamless across projects. The spatial reference used for tiles of the 1m pixel size DEM within the conterminous United States (CONUS) is Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) in units of meters and in conformance with the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). All bare earth elevation values are in meters and are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). Each tile is distributed in the UTM Zone in which it lies. If a tile crosses two UTM zones, it is delivered in both zones. In this and other cases of image overlaps, elevation values might be slightly different in different images covering the same area. The 1m pixel size DEM is the highest resolution standard DEM offered in the 3DEP product suite. The 10m 3DEP dataset is available at USGS_3DEP_10m.

There are a variety of resources available via The National Map homepage, such as static maps, interactive map viewers, and geospatial data. Some of these maps and apps include, the National Map Viewer, the 3D Elevation Program, the National Hydrography Dataset and Hydrography Viewer, the Historical Topographic Map and the US Topo. Via The National Map, historical topographic maps are available to search and download via a variety of options. The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) provides information about, and access to elevation data meeting the 3DEP guidelines. Users can also access and view the National Hydrography Dataset via the Hydrography viewer; this is similar to the National Map Viewer, however the basemap is based on HUC watersheds. Using the National Map Viewer, users can search for, access and download current 7.5 minute US Topos for the entire country; users can also explore and view other data for their area of interest. Below, find links to the different The National Map resources that were described above. The National Map also provides access to other data and viewers, such as the National Land Cover Database, and The National Map Corps.

GTOPO30 is a global raster digital elevation model (DEM) providing terrain elevation data with a horizontal grid spacing of 30 arc seconds (approximately 1 kilometer). GTOPO30 was derived from several raster and vector sources of topographic information. For easier distribution, GTOPO30 has been divided into tiles [https://rda.ucar.edu/datasets/ds758.0/docs/tiles.gif]. Detailed information on the characteristics of GTOPO30 including the data distribution format, the data sources, production methods, accuracy, and hints for users, is found in the GTOPO30 README [https://rda.ucar.edu/datasets/ds758.0/docs/readme.txt] file.

GTOPO30, completed in late 1996, was developed over a three year period through a collaborative effort led by staff at the U.S. Geological Survey's Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). The following organizations participated by contributing funding or source data: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United Nations Environment Program and Global Resource Information Database (UNEP and GRID), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografica e Informatica (INEGI) of Mexico, the Geographical Survey Institute (GSI) of Japan, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research of New Zealand, and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).

This is a tiled collection of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) covering Alaska only, and is 5-meter resolution. The 3DEP data holdings serve as the elevation layer of The National Map, and provide foundational elevation information for earth science studies and mapping applications in the United States. Scientists and resource managers use 3DEP data for hydrologic modeling, resource monitoring, mapping and visualization, and many other applications. The elevations in this DEM represent the topographic bare-earth surface. USGS standard 5-meter DEMs are produced exclusively from interferometric synthetic aperture radar (Ifsar) source data of 5-meter or higher resolution. Five-meter DEM surfaces are seamless within collection projects, but, not necessarily seamless across projects. This DEM is delivered in the original resolution, with the original spatial reference. All elevation units have been converted to meters. These data may be used as the source of updates to the seamless 1/3 ...

This collection of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is at 1/3 arc-second (approximately 10 m) resolution. The 3DEP data holdings serve as the elevation layer of The National Map, and provide foundational elevation information for earth science studies and mapping applications in the United States. Scientists and resource managers use 3DEP data for hydrologic modeling, resource monitoring, mapping and visualization, and many other applications. The elevations in this DEM represent the topographic bare-earth surface. The seamless 1/3 arc-second DEM layers are derived from diverse source data that are processed to a common coordinate system and unit of vertical measure. These data are distributed in geographic coordinates in units of decimal degrees, and in conformance with the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). All elevation values are in meters and, over the continental United States, are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). The vertical reference will vary in other areas. The seamless 1/3 arc-second DEM layer provides coverage of the conterminous United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, other territorial islands, and in limited areas of Alaska. These seamless DEMs were referred to as the National Elevation Dataset (NED) from about 2000 through 2015 at which time they became the seamless DEM layers under the 3DEP program and the NED name and system were retired. All 3DEP products are public domain.

A bare-earth topography Digital Elevation Model (DEM) mosaic for the Lower Neches River Corridor Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas was produced from remotely sensed, geographically referenced elevation measurements collected on January 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29, 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service - Gulf Coast Network. Elevation measurements were collected over the area using the second-generation Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL-B), a pulsed laser ranging system mounted onboard an aircraft to measure ground elevation, vegetation canopy, and coastal topography. The system uses high-frequency laser beams directed at the Earth's surface through an opening in the bottom of the aircraft's fuselage. The laser system records the time difference between emission of the laser beam and the reception of the reflected laser signal in the aircraft. The plane travels over the target area at approximately 55 meters per second at an elevation of approximately 300 meters, resulting in a laser swath of approximately 240 meters with an average point density of 1.4 points per square meter. A peak sampling rate of 15-30 kilohertz results in an extremely dense spatial elevation dataset. More than 100 kilometers of coastline can be surveyed easily within a 3- to 4-hour mission. When resultant elevation maps for an area are analyzed, they provide a useful tool to make management decisions regarding land development.

A 10-meter resolution land surface digital elevation model (DEM) grayscale hillshade for the island of Oahu in Hawaii derived from United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1/3 arc-second DEM quadrangles. For the related dataset containing numeric elevation values for this image layer, see http://pacioos.org/metadata/usgs_dem_10m_oahu.html

NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) is building high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) for select U.S. coastal regions. These integrated bathymetric-topographic DEMs are used to support tsunami forecasting and modeling efforts at the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). The DEMs are part of the tsunami forecast system SIFT (Short-term Inundation Forecasting for Tsunamis) currently being developed by PMEL for the NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers, and are used in the MOST (Method of Splitting Tsunami) model developed by PMEL to simulate tsunami generation, propagation, and inundation. Bathymetric, topographic, and shoreline data used in DEM compilation are obtained from various sources, including NGDC, the U.S. National Ocean Service (NOS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other federal, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private companies. DEMs are referenced to the vertical tidal datum of Mean High Water (MHW) and horizontal datum of World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84). Grid spacings for the DEMs range from 1/3 arc-second (~10 meters) to 3 arc-seconds (~90 meters).

Source: https://carto.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/rest/services/contours/MapServerThe USGS Elevation Contours service from The National Map displays contours generated for the United States at various scales. Small-scale contours were created by USGS TNM from 1 arc-second data with 100-meter contours, and are visible at 1:600,000 and smaller scales. Medium-scale contours were created by USGS EROS from 1/3-arc-second data with 100-foot intervals, and are visible between 1:150,000 and 1:600,000. Additional medium-scale contours were created by USGS EROS from 1/3-arc-second data with 50-foot intervals, and are visible between 1:50,000 and 1:150,000. Large scale contours are updated every quarter, and are created by USGS TNM for the 7.5' 1:24,000-scale US Topo digital map series. These contours are derived from 1/3 arc-second or better resolution data, and are visible at scales 1:50,000 and larger. Large scale contour intervals are variable across the United States depending on complexity of topography, and as contours are generated per US Topo quadrangle, lines may not match across quad boundaries. The National Map download client allows free downloads of public domain contour data in either Esri File Geodatabase or Shapefile formats. The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) provides elevation data for The National Map and basic elevation information for earth science studies and mapping applications. Scientists and resource managers use elevation data for global change research, hydrologic modeling, resource monitoring, mapping and visualization, and many other applications. For additional information on 3DEP, go to https://www.usgs.gov/3d-elevation-program. See https://apps.nationalmap.gov/help for assistance with The National Map viewer, download client, services, or metadata.

Layers of geospatial data include contours, boundaries, land cover, hydrography, roads, transportation, geographic names, structures, and other selected map features.