High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) - CanElevation Series

High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) - CanElevation Series The High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) product is derived from airborne LiDAR data (mainly in the south) and satellite images in the north. The complete coverage of the Canadian territory is gradually being established. It includes a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and other derived data. For DTM datasets, derived data available are slope, aspect, shaded relief, color relief and color shaded relief maps and for DSM datasets, derived data available are shaded relief, color relief and color shaded relief maps. The productive forest line is used to separate the northern and the southern parts of the country. This line is approximate and may change based on requirements. In the southern part of the country (south of the productive forest line), DTM and DSM datasets are generated from airborne LiDAR data. They are offered at a 1 m or 2 m resolution and projected to the UTM NAD83 (CSRS) coordinate system and the corresponding zones. The datasets at a 1 m resolution cover an area of 10 km x 10 km while datasets at a 2 m resolution cover an area of 20 km by 20 km. In the northern part of the country (north of the productive forest line), due to the low density of vegetation and infrastructure, only DSM datasets are generally generated. Most of these datasets have optical digital images as their source data. They are generated at a 2 m resolution using the Polar Stereographic North coordinate system referenced to WGS84 horizontal datum or UTM NAD83 (CSRS) coordinate system. Each dataset covers an area of 50 km by 50 km. For some locations in the north, DSM and DTM datasets can also be generated from airborne LiDAR data. In this case, these products will be generated with the same specifications as those generated from airborne LiDAR in the southern part of the country. The HRDEM product is referenced to the Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum of 2013 (CGVD2013), which is now the reference standard for heights across Canada. Source data for HRDEM datasets is acquired through multiple projects with different partners. Since data is being acquired by project, there is no integration or edgematching done between projects. The tiles are aligned within each project. The product High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) is part of the CanElevation Series created in support to the National Elevation Data Strategy implemented by NRCan. Collaboration is a key factor to the success of the National Elevation Data Strategy. Refer to the “Supporting Document” section to access the list of the different partners including links to their respective data. 2025-02-24 Natural Resources Canada geoinfo@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca Form DescriptorsDigital Elevation ModelDigital Surface ModelDigital Terrain ModelLiDARShaded ReliefAspect MapColor Shaded ReliefSlope MapArcticSDI_DEMDigital elevation data DTM derived data (download directory)GeoTIF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/dtm_mnt Product Access and Download Guide (English)PDF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/HRDEM_Download_Instructions.pdf Product Access and Download Guide (French)PDF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/MNEHR_Instructions_Telechargement.pdf SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) Application Programming Interface (API)JSON https://datacube.services.geo.ca/stac/api/search?collections=hrdem-lidar DSM derived data (download directory)GeoTIF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/dsm_mns High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) - CanElevation Series - Product Specifications (English)PDF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/HRDEM_Product_Specification.pdf High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) - CanElevation Series - Product Specifications (French)PDF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/MNEHR_Specification_Produit.pdf HRDEM Dataset Footprints by coordinate systemSHP https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/Datasets_Footprints.zip HRDEM Project Footprints (drag and drop the kml file in Google Earth to localize your region of interest)KMZ https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/Projects_Footprints.kmz HRDEM Metadata Model (English)HTML https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/HRDEM_Metadata_Model.html HRDEM Metadata Model (French)HTML https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/MNEHR_Modele_Metadonnees.html HRDEM Project FootprintsSHP https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/Projects_Footprints.zip HRDEM Products and Project FootprintsESRI REST https://maps-cartes.services.geo.ca/server_serveur/rest/services/NRCan/coverage_HRDEM_fr/MapServer HRDEM Products and Project FootprintsESRI REST https://maps-cartes.services.geo.ca/server_serveur/rest/services/NRCan/coverage_HRDEM_en/MapServer National Elevation Strategy partnersPDF https://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/elevation/dem_mne/highresolution_hauteresolution/NationalElevationStrategyPartners.pdf

The High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) product is derived from airborne LiDAR data (mainly in the south) and satellite images in the north. The complete coverage of the Canadian territory is gradually being established. It includes a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and other derived data. For DTM datasets, derived data available are slope, aspect, shaded relief, color relief and color shaded relief maps and for DSM datasets, derived data available are shaded relief, color relief and color shaded relief maps.

The productive forest line is used to separate the northern and the southern parts of the country. This line is approximate and may change based on requirements. In the southern part of the country (south of the productive forest line), DTM and DSM datasets are generated from airborne LiDAR data. They are offered at a 1 m or 2 m resolution and projected to the UTM NAD83 (CSRS) coordinate system and the corresponding zones. The datasets at a 1 m resolution cover an area of 10 km x 10 km while datasets at a 2 m resolution cover an area of 20 km by 20 km. In the northern part of the country (north of the productive forest line), due to the low density of vegetation and infrastructure, only DSM datasets are generally generated. Most of these datasets have optical digital images as their source data. They are generated at a 2 m resolution using the Polar Stereographic North coordinate system referenced to WGS84 horizontal datum or UTM NAD83 (CSRS) coordinate system. Each dataset covers an area of 50 km by 50 km. For some locations in the north, DSM and DTM datasets can also be generated from airborne LiDAR data. In this case, these products will be generated with the same specifications as those generated from airborne LiDAR in the southern part of the country.

The HRDEM product is referenced to the Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum of 2013 (CGVD2013), which is now the reference standard for heights across Canada.

Source data for HRDEM datasets is acquired through multiple projects with different partners. Since data is being acquired by project, there is no integration or edgematching done between projects. The tiles are aligned within each project.

The product High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) is part of the CanElevation Series created in support to the National Elevation Data Strategy implemented by NRCan. Collaboration is a key factor to the success of the National Elevation Data Strategy. Refer to the “Supporting Document” section to access the list of the different partners including links to their respective data.

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Contact Information

Electronic Mail Address: geoinfo@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

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