LIDAR Composite DSM - 2m

The LIDAR Composite DSM (Digital Surface Model) is a raster elevation model covering ~75% of England at 2m spatial resolution. Produced by the Environment Agency, this dataset is derived from a combination of our full time stamped archive, which has been merged and re-sampled to give the best possible coverage. Where repeat surveys have been undertaken the newest, best resolution data is used. The composite is updated on an annual basis to include the latest surveys.

The DSM (Digital Surface Model) is produced from the last return LIDAR signal and includes heights of objects, such as vehicles, buildings and vegetation, as well as the terrain surface. Available to download as ASCII files in 5km grids, data is presented in metres, referenced to Ordinance Survey Newlyn, using the OSTN’15 transformation. All LIDAR data has a vertical accuracy of +/-15cm RMSE. A tinted shaded relief, which is an image showing what LIDAR looks like when loaded into specialist software, is also available as a WMS feed. You can also download survey index files which shows, for any location, what Time Stamped survey went into the production of the LIDAR composite.

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is an airborne mapping technique, which uses a laser to measure the distance between the aircraft and the ground. Up to 500,000 measurements per second are made of the ground, allowing highly detailed terrain models to be generated at spatial resolutions of between 25cm and 2 metres. The Environment Agency’s open data LIDAR archives includes the Point Cloud data, and derived raster surface models of survey specific areas and composites of the best data available in any location.

To find out more about LIDAR and the various surface models we produce please read our story map

This metadata record is for Approval for Access product AfA458. Attribution statement: (c) Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2019. All rights reserved. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.