USGS National Map 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud Collection

The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) collection provides public domain lidar point cloud data, serving as the foundational elevation layer for The National Map across the United States. It consists of millions of geo-referenced 3D points stored in LAZ format, preserving original spatial references and units. These data points, containing x, y, z coordinates and other attributes, are the source for seamless Digital Elevation Models (DEMs).

Use Cases

• Generate high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) by processing the x, y, and z coordinate points from the point cloud.
• Analyze bare earth elevation changes by filtering point cloud attributes specific to ground returns.
• Convert LAZ format files to LAS for compatibility with specialized photogrammetry and remote sensing software.
• Conduct earth science studies by utilizing the foundational 3D elevation data as a base layer for geospatial analysis.

Strengths

• Contains millions of 3D data points, providing high-resolution elevation information.
• Data is public domain, enabling unrestricted use for mapping and scientific applications.
• Point cloud format preserves original spatial reference and units, maintaining data fidelity.
• Serves as the source for multiple seamless Digital Elevation Model (DEM) products.

Limitations

• Specific row count, column structure, and total data size are not provided in the input.
• Data is delivered in LAZ/XML formats, requiring specialized tools for processing and visualization.
• The description lacks details on point density, acquisition dates for specific areas, and potential coverage gaps.

Provenance

Source

Department of the Interior, USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP).

Collection Method

Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) discrete-return point cloud data collected from various projects and provided to the USGS.

Freshness

Last updated metadata indicates a date in 2026, suggesting active maintenance.

Geography

United States.