Sample Elevation Models

A benchmark for comparisons

The depiction of terrain on maps is undergoing a renaissance due to new digital techniques. As demonstrated by the images above, one can represent the same terrain many different ways. To give mapmakers and researchers "common ground" for comparative experimentation, we offer sample Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) available in two categories: multi-resolution and archetypal landforms.

Multi-resolution DEMs are available for mountainous areas in Alaska, Colorado, and Switzerland at a range of resolutions. For example, there are eleven DEMs in the Colorado series starting at 1-meter resolution and ending at 5-kilometer resolution, a scale that includes most of North America. Each of the Colorado DEMs has the same center point and same number of height samples, 1,500 x 1,500.

The idea for multi-resolution DEMs originated with this illustration centered on the Säntis Group, Switzerland, in Eduard Imhof's classic text, Cartographic Relief Presentation. Inspired by his example, we prepared a series of multi-resolution DEMs focused on Churfirsten, a nearby mountain that has a distinctive crescent-shape (see banner images above).

Archetypal landform DEMs are now being added to the site starting with Crater Lake, Oregon, and four others. As more elevation data derived from high-resolution LiDAR become available, we will be adding other places that have distinctive terrain.

We have permanently stored the elevation models on the Zenodo website. The download links below will take you there.

Learn more

04 Nov 2020 article in Cartography and Geographic Information Science

1) Gore Range, Colorado, USA

Resolutions: 1, 5, 15, 30, 90, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 2,500, and 5,000 meters, 1500 x 1,500 height samples each

More information about the Gore Range data

Sample Elevation Models

for Evaluating Terrain Representation

Esri ASCII Grid, 57.9 MB

GeoTIFF, 56.2 MB

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

All data used to prepare the DEMs found on this site are from free sources. The DEMs that derive from USGS 3DEP, Canadian government, and SRTM data are in the public domain. DEMs deriving from swissALTI3D, MERIT DEM, and OpenTopography require citation. DEMs deriving from ViewFinderPanoramas have been made available by Jonathan de Ferranti under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Please email us with any questions or if you have suggestions to improve the site

Sarah Bell

Daniel Huffman

Bernie Jenny

Patrick Kennelly

Brooke Marston

Tom Patterson

Alex Tait

1 meter

5,000 meters

Multi-resolution DEMs

2) Valdez, Alaska, USA

Resolutions: 3.3, 7.5, 15, 30, 90, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 meters, 1500 x 1,500 height samples each

More information about the Valdez data

3.3 meter

2,000 meters

3) Churfirsten, Switzerland

Resolutions: 0.5, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 meters, 3,000 x 2,500 height samples each

More information about the Churfirsten data

0.5 meter

2,000 meters

Churfirsten, Switzerland

Video: 2019 NACIS conference presentation. 22:46

Esri ASCII Grid, 32.4 MB

GeoTIFF, 32.2 MB

Esri ASCII Grid, 45.7 MB

GeoTIFF, 45.3 MB

Wanted: more landform DEMs

We are currently searching the world for elevation data of iconic landforms to include here. Canyons, drumlins, hills, tablelands, and strato volcanoes are on our short list. If you can suggest a good place, please contact us. The elevation data must be free of artifacts, high-resolution, and in the public domain. Thanks!