LIDAR Composite First Return DSM 2020: 2m Raster Elevation Model of England

A 2-meter resolution raster Digital Surface Model (DSM) produced by the Environment Agency in 2020. The dataset was created by resampling a 1m first return DSM composite, which was itself derived from LIDAR surveys conducted across England between November 2016 and March 2020. The data is available as GeoTiff rasters in 5km tiles, with heights in meters referenced to the Ordnance Survey Newlyn datum.

Use Cases

• Modeling urban infrastructure and building heights based on the first return LIDAR signal.
• Analyzing vegetation canopy structure and coverage using the surface model that includes object heights.
• Creating hillshade, slope, or aspect maps for terrain visualization using the provided ESRI REST services.
• Assessing changes in surface elevation over time by comparing with other LIDAR composite products.

Strengths

• High vertical accuracy, with individual source surveys having a vertical accuracy of +/-10cm RMSE.
• National coverage of England, created by merging and feathering multiple local block surveys.
• Available in multiple derivative formats including hillshade, slope, and aspect via ESRI REST services.

Limitations

• The dataset has been retired, with a newer version available via a provided link.
• Coverage and extent differ from the standard last-return DSM composite, limiting direct comparisons.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality and specific file formats require manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

Environment Agency, United Kingdom

Collection Method

Created from LIDAR data captured as part of a national timeseries programme, with individual surveys merged using a feathering technique.

Time Range

Surveys conducted between 11 November 2016 and 23 March 2020; composite produced in 2020.

Freshness

null

Geography

England