How to Download 30 m DEM Data for Free
Digital elevation models (DEMs) are 3D representations of the terrain surface that store elevation values for each pixel or point. They are widely used in geographic information systems (GIS) for various applications such as terrain analysis, hydrological modeling, land use planning, and visualization. In this article, we will introduce what is 30 m DEM data and why you need it, where to find it, how to download it, and how to use it in GIS.
download 30 m dem
What is 30 m DEM Data and Why You Need It
Definition and Characteristics of 30 m DEM Data
30 m DEM data refers to DEMs that have a spatial resolution of 30 meters, meaning that each pixel or point covers an area of 30 by 30 meters on the ground. This resolution is considered high enough to capture the details of the terrain features, such as hills, valleys, rivers, and buildings. Compared to coarser resolution DEMs (such as 90 m or 250 m), 30 m DEMs can provide more accurate and reliable information about the elevation and slope of the surface.
Applications and Benefits of 30 m DEM Data
30 m DEM data can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:
Geometric correction of satellite images
Modeling of water flow for hydrology
Rendering of 3D visualizations
Precision farming
The benefits of using 30 m DEM data include:
How to download 30 m dem from NASA SRTM
Download 30 m dem for free from Copernicus
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Calculate slope and aspect from 30 m dem data
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Improving the accuracy and quality of spatial analysis and modeling
Enhancing the realism and aesthetics of maps and graphics
Reducing the cost and time of data acquisition and processing
Increasing the availability and accessibility of elevation data for different regions
Sources of 30 m DEM Data
SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) was a joint project by NASA and NGA that collected elevation data for most of the world using a radar system on board the Space Shuttle Endeavour in February 2000. The SRTM data was originally released at a resolution of 90 meters globally and 30 meters for the United States. In late 2014, NASA released the SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global dataset, which provides elevation data at a resolution of about 30 meters for almost the entire land surface (except for some polar regions). The SRTM data has an absolute vertical height accuracy of less than 16 meters.
ASTER GDEM
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a sensor on board the Terra satellite that collects multispectral images of the Earth. The ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) is a product derived from stereo pairs of ASTER images using photogrammetry techniques. The ASTER GDEM covers more than 99% of the Earth's landmass with a resolution of about 30 meters. The first version of ASTER GDEM was released in June 2009, followed by an improved version in October 2011. The ASTER GDEM has an absolute vertical height accuracy of about 20 meters.
Copernicus DEM
The Copernicus Programme is a Outline of the article: - H1: How to Download 30 m DEM Data for Free - H2: What is 30 m DEM Data and Why You Need It - H3: Definition and Characteristics of 30 m DEM Data - H3: Applications and Benefits of 30 m DEM Data - H2: Sources of 30 m DEM Data - H3: SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global - H3: ASTER GDEM - H3: Copernicus DEM - H3: Other Sources - H2: How to Download 30 m DEM Data - H3: Using USGS Earth Explorer - H3: Using Other Websites - H2: How to Use 30 m DEM Data in GIS - H3: Checking the Format and Projection of the Data - H3: Importing the Data into GIS Software - H3: Performing Spatial Analysis and Visualization with the Data - H2: Conclusion - H2: FAQs Article in HTML format: How to Download 30 m DEM Data for Free
Digital elevation models (DEMs) are 3D representations of the terrain surface that store elevation values for each pixel or point. They are widely used in geographic information systems (GIS) for various applications such as terrain analysis, hydrological modeling, land use planning, and visualization. In this article, we will introduce what is 30 m DEM data and why you need it, where to find it, how to download it, and how to use it in GIS.
What is 30 m DEM Data and Why You Need It
Definition and Characteristics of 30 m DEM Data
30 m DEM data refers to DEMs that have a spatial resolution of 30 meters, meaning that each pixel or point covers an area of 30 by 30 meters on the ground. This resolution is considered high enough to capture the details of the terrain features, such as hills, valleys, rivers, and buildings. Compared to coarser resolution DEMs (such as 90 m or 250 m), 30 m DEMs can provide more accurate and reliable information about the elevation and slope of the surface.
Applications and Benefits of 30 m DEM Data
30 m DEM data can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:
Geometric correction of satellite images
Modeling of water flow for hydrology
Rendering of 3D visualizations
Precision farming
The benefits of using 30 m DEM data include:
Improving the accuracy and quality of spatial analysis and modeling
Enhancing the realism and aesthetics of maps and graphics
Reducing the cost and time of data acquisition and processing
Increasing the availability and accessibility of elevation data for different regions
Sources of 30 m DEM Data
SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) was a joint project by NASA and NGA that collected elevation data for most of the world using a radar system on board the Space Shuttle Endeavour in February 2000. The SRTM data was originally released at a resolution of 90 meters globally and 30 meters for the United States. In late 2014, NASA released the SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global dataset, which provides elevation data at a resolution of about 30 meters for almost the entire land surface (except for some polar regions). The SRTM data has an absolute vertical height accuracy of less than 16 meters.
ASTER GDEM
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a sensor on board the Terra satellite that collects multispectral images of the Earth. The ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) is a product derived from stereo pairs of ASTER images using photogrammetry techniques. The ASTER GDEM covers more than 99% of the Earth's landmass with a resolution of about 30 meters. The first version of ASTER GDEM was released in June 2009, followed by an improved version in October 2011. The ASTER GDEM has an absolute vertical height accuracy of about 20 meters.
Copernicus DEM
The Copernicus Programme is a. The Copernicus Programme is a European Union initiative that provides Earth observation data and services for various domains such as land, ocean, atmosphere, climate change, security, and emergency management. The Copernicus DEM is a high-resolution elevation model that covers the entire globe with a resolution of 30 meters for Europe and 90 meters for the rest of the world. The Copernicus DEM is based on multiple sources of data, such as SRTM, ASTER GDEM, and national datasets. The Copernicus DEM has an absolute vertical height accuracy of 4 meters for Europe and 10 meters for the rest of the world.
Other Sources
Besides the three main sources mentioned above, there are also other sources of 30 m DEM data that cover specific regions or countries. For example, you can find 30 m DEM data for Canada from the Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM), for Japan from the Fundamental Geospatial Data (FGD), and for China from the China Elevation Data (CDED). You can also search for other national or regional datasets from online platforms such as OpenTopography or GeoNode.
How to Download 30 m DEM Data
Using USGS Earth Explorer
One of the easiest ways to download 30 m DEM data is to use the USGS Earth Explorer website, which provides access to various types of geospatial data, including SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global and ASTER GDEM. To download 30 m DEM data from USGS Earth Explorer, you need to follow these steps:
Go to and create a free account if you don't have one.
Enter your search criteria, such as the location, date range, and data type. You can use the map or the text boxes to define your area of interest.
Select the datasets that you want to download. You can find SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global under Digital Elevation > SRTM > SRTM 1 Arc-Second Global, and ASTER GDEM under Digital Elevation > ASTER Global DEM.
Click on the Results tab to see the available data for your area of interest. You can preview the data by clicking on the icons or the metadata links.
Select the data that you want to download by checking the boxes next to them. You can also add them to your cart or your list for later use.
Click on the Download Options button to see the available formats and options for downloading the data. You can choose to download the data as zip files or GeoTIFF files.
Click on the Download button to start downloading the data. You may need to enter your email address and agree to the terms and conditions before downloading.
Using Other Websites
Another way to download 30 m DEM data is to use other websites that provide direct links or web services for accessing the data. For example, you can download Copernicus DEM data from , which provides SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global data as WMS layers.
How to Use 30 m DEM Data in GIS
Checking the Format and Projection of the Data
Before using 30 m DEM data in GIS, you need to check the format and projection of the data. The format refers to how the data is stored and organized in files, such as zip, GeoTIFF, or HDF. The projection refers to how the data is mapped onto a flat surface, such as WGS84 or UTM. You need to make sure that the format and projection of the data are compatible with your GIS software and your analysis needs.
You can use various tools and methods to check and convert the format and projection of the data. For example, you can use GDAL utilities such as gdalinfo and gdalwarp to inspect and transform the data. You can also use GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS to open and reproject the data. You can also use online tools such as to convert the data format and projection.
Importing the Data into GIS Software
After checking and converting the format and projection of the data, you can import the data into your GIS software for further analysis and visualization. The steps for importing the data may vary depending on the software and the data type, but generally, you need to follow these steps:
Launch your GIS software and create a new project or open an existing one.
Add a basemap layer to provide geographic context for your data. You can use online basemaps such as OpenStreetMap or Google Maps, or use your own local basemap files.
Add the 30 m DEM data as a raster layer to your project. You can use the Add Data or Add Layer button to browse and select the data file from your computer or online source. You can also drag and drop the data file into your project.
Adjust the properties and symbology of the raster layer to display the elevation values and colors according to your preference. You can use the Layer Properties or Symbology menu to change the settings such as color ramp, transparency, stretch, hillshade, etc.
Save your project and export your map as an image or a PDF file if needed.
Performing Spatial Analysis and Visualization with the Data
Once you have imported the 30 m DEM data into your GIS software, you can perform various spatial analysis and visualization tasks with the data. For example, you can:
Calculate slope, aspect, curvature, and other terrain attributes from the DEM using raster calculator or terrain analysis tools.
Extract contour lines, watersheds, stream networks, and other features from the DEM using hydrological analysis tools.
Create 3D models, fly-through animations, and virtual reality scenes from the DEM using 3D analyst or VR tools.
Overlay other vector or raster layers on top of the DEM to show spatial relationships and patterns.
Perform spatial statistics, interpolation, classification, and other advanced analysis with the DEM using geoprocessing or spatial analyst tools.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned what is 30 m DEM data and why you need it, where to find it, how to download it, and how to use it in GIS. We have seen that 30 m DEM data is a valuable resource for various applications that require high-resolution elevation information. We have also learned how to access 30 m DEM data from different sources, such as SRTM 1-ArcSecond Global, ASTER GDEM, Copernicus DEM, and others. We have also learned how to check and convert the format and projection of the data, how to import the data into GIS software, and how to perform spatial analysis and visualization with the data. We hope that this article has helped you understand and appreciate 30 m DEM data better.
FAQs
What is the difference between DEM and DSM?
A digital elevation model (DEM) represents the bare earth surface without any vegetation or buildings. A digital surface model (DSM) represents the top of any objects on the surface, such as trees or roofs. A DSM can be derived from a DEM by adding height values for vegetation or buildings.
What is the best source of 30 m DEM data for my area?
The best source of 30 m DEM data for your area depends on several factors, such as availability, accuracy, currency, coverage, and quality. You may need to compare different sources of 30 m DEM data for your area and choose the one that best suits your needs. You can use online platforms such as to compare different sources of 30 m DEM data for your area.
How can I merge multiple 30 m DEM tiles into one file?
If you have downloaded multiple 30 m DEM tiles that cover a larger area than one tile, you may want to merge them into one file for easier processing and analysis. You can use various tools and methods to merge multiple 30 m DEM tiles into one file. For example, you can use GDAL utilities such as gdal_merge.py or gdalbuildvrt.py to merge multiple raster files into one file. You can also use GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS to merge multiple raster files into one file using the Mosaic or Merge tools. You can also use online tools such as to merge multiple raster files into one file.
How can I clip 30 m DEM data to a specific area of interest?
If you have downloaded 30 m DEM data that covers a larger area than your area of interest, you may want to clip the data to a specific area of interest for faster processing and analysis. You can use various tools and methods to clip 30 m DEM data to a specific area of interest. For example, you can use GDAL utilities such as gdal_translate.py or gdalwarp.py to clip a raster file to a bounding box or a polygon. You can also use GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS to clip a raster file to a vector layer using the Clip or Extract by Mask tools. You can also use online tools such as to clip a raster file to a bounding box.
How can I fill the gaps or remove the noise in 30 m DEM data?
If you have downloaded 30 m DEM data that contains gaps or noise, such as missing values, outliers, or artifacts, you may want to fill the gaps or remove the noise for better analysis and visualization. You can use various tools and methods to fill the gaps or remove the noise in 30 m DEM data. For example, you can use GDAL utilities such as gdal_fillnodata.py or gdal_sieve.py to fill the gaps or remove the noise in a raster file using interpolation or filtering techniques. You can also use GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS to fill the gaps or remove the noise in a raster file using the Fill Nodata or Filter tools. You can also use online tools such as to smooth a raster file.
How can I convert 30 m DEM data to other formats or units?
If you have downloaded 30 m DEM data that is in a format or unit that is not compatible with your analysis needs, you may want to convert the data to other formats or units. You can use various tools and methods to convert 30 m DEM data to other formats or units. For example, you can use GDAL utilities such as gdal_translate.py or gdal_calc.py to convert a raster file to another format or unit using conversion options or arithmetic expressions. You can also use GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS to convert a raster file to another format or unit using the Translate or Raster Calculator tools. You can also use online tools such as to convert a raster file to another format or unit. 44f88ac181
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