GeoTIFF
OpenTopography Global DEM
A practical gateway for downloading global DEM tiles and bounding-box extracts such as SRTM and Copernicus products.
Terrain analysis Hillshade workflows
DEM & elevation
DEM & Elevation Data
Global elevation, terrain, and bathymetry datasets including SRTM, Copernicus DEM, ASTER GDEM, AW3D30, ArcticDEM, GEBCO, MapLibre-ready terrain tiles, and China-focused sources with browser-ready download guidance.
SRTM Copernicus DEM ASTER GDEM AW3D30 NASADEM ArcticDEM GEBCO ETOPO1 MERIT DEM MapLibre terrain raster-dem tiles GeoTIFF 中国地理空间数据云 国家基础地理信息中心
Downloadable datasets in this category
24
Each dataset page captures official source links, access notes, and related GIS workflows.
Official sources and direct access
Mixed delivery
Pages combine official portals, direct downloads, and task-focused usage guidance in one canonical URL.
GEO coverage
Task-first content
Intros, FAQs, and workflows are written to answer real “where do I download…” searches.
This category covers digital elevation models, terrain rasters, bathymetric datasets, and MapLibre-ready raster-dem tile services that are practical to download, cite, and use in QGIS, GDAL, GeoDataViewer, or MapLibre GL JS.
The directory spans global 30m products (Copernicus, ASTER, AW3D30, NASADEM), void-filled SRTM, polar DEMs, ocean bathymetry, China-specific sources, and ready-to-use terrain tile services for 3D map rendering — all with clear licensing and realistic access steps.
Downloadable datasets in this category
Category directory
Category pages aggregate the most useful entry points first, then push visitors into detailed dataset pages with richer steps and FAQ sections.
GeoTIFF / COG
Copernicus DEM 30m
A widely used global 30m elevation source available through public cloud and official Copernicus access paths.
Regional terrain basemaps DEM mosaics
Zipped SRTMHGT
SRTM 30m Tile Downloader
Interactive download page for NASA SRTM 1-arcsecond elevation tiles with local tile coverage data and Earthdata login guidance.
Site-scale terrain downloads QGIS elevation mosaics
Zipped SRTMHGT
SRTM 90m Tile Downloader
Interactive download page for NASA SRTM 3-arcsecond elevation tiles with global reference coverage and Earthdata login guidance.
Regional terrain coverage Lighter-weight DEM workflows
Raster DEM
Free Chinese geospatial data portal offering SRTM, ASTER GDEM, MODIS, and Landsat data with China-focused coverage and simple registered-user downloads.
China-focused terrain analysis SRTM 90m regional mosaics
GeoTIFF
ASTER GDEM v3
NASA/JAXA ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model Version 3 at 30-meter resolution with near-global land coverage from stereo optical imagery.
Global terrain modeling Void-filling for SRTM gaps
GeoTIFF
ALOS World 3D (AW3D30)
JAXA ALOS World 3D 30-meter global DEM derived from PALSAR stereo SAR imagery with worldwide land coverage and free registration-based download.
Global 30m terrain basemaps SAR-based elevation for cloudy regions
GeoTIFF / HGT
NASADEM
NASA NASADEM improves on SRTM with ICESat altimetry, ASTER GDEM filling, and reprocessing for reduced voids and better vertical accuracy at 30-meter resolution.
Improved SRTM replacement Hydrological modeling in tropics
GeoTIFF
CGIAR-CSI SRTM (Void-Filled)
CGIAR Consortium for Spatial Information void-filled SRTM 90m DEM processed to eliminate no-data regions across global land areas.
Void-free SRTM mosaics Large-area hydrological modeling
GeoTIFF / COG
ArcticDEM
Polar Geospatial Center ArcticDEM at 2–5 meter resolution covering the Arctic from stereo satellite imagery, with void-filled mosaics and strip DEMs.
Glacier volume change analysis Arctic infrastructure planning
GeoTIFF / COG
REMA (Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica)
Polar Geospatial Center REMA at 2–8 meter resolution covering Antarctica from stereo satellite imagery, with mosaiced and strip DEM products.
Antarctic ice sheet dynamics Sea level rise research
GeoTIFF
MERIT DEM
MERIT (Multi-Error-Removed Improved-Terrain) DEM at 90-meter resolution with removed SRTM sensor errors, stripes, and void areas for improved hydrological modeling.
Hydrological modeling and flow routing Drainage network extraction
GeoTIFF / Esri GRID
GMTED2010
USGS/NGA Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 providing global elevation statistics at 7.5 to 30 arc-second resolution from multiple source DEMs.
Continental-scale terrain reference Global elevation statistics
GeoTIFF / NetCDF
ETOPO1
NOAA ETOPO1 1-arc-minute global topography and bathymetry dataset combining land elevation with ocean floor depth for integrated relief models.
Global relief mapping and cartography Ocean and bathymetric modeling
NetCDF / GeoTIFF
GEBCO
General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) global bathymetric grid at 15 arc-second resolution combining satellite altimetry and ship soundings for seafloor mapping.
Global ocean bathymetry reference Marine navigation and habitat mapping
GeoTIFF
TanDEM-X WorldDEM
Airbus/DLR TanDEM-X WorldDEM at 12-meter resolution from bistatic SAR interferometry, providing the most accurate global commercial DEM available.
Precision engineering and infrastructure Military and defense terrain analysis
GeoTIFF / ArcGRID
NED / 3DEP (USGS)
USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) providing 1–10 meter resolution DEMs for the United States via The National Map with seamless national coverage.
US high-resolution terrain analysis Lidar-derived elevation for engineering
Raster DEM
国家基础地理信息中心 (NGCC) provides authoritative Chinese national baseline geographic data including DEM, administrative boundaries, and topographic maps via webmap.cn.
Authoritative China DEM National terrain mapping and cartography
GeoTIFF
中国资源卫星中心 (CRESDA)
中国资源卫星应用中心 (China Centre for Resources Satellite Data and Application) provides free access to Chinese satellite imagery and derived products including ZY-3 stereo DEMs.
High-resolution China DEM from ZY-3 stereo Gaofen satellite imagery access
Raster-dem tiles (Terrarium)
MapTiler Terrain Tiles
Cloud-hosted Terrarium-encoded terrain raster tiles ready for MapLibre GL JS terrain rendering with free tier and global coverage.
MapLibre 3D terrain Web map hillshade
Raster-dem tiles (Terrarium)
Stadia Maps Terrain Tiles
Terrarium-encoded global raster-dem tiles from Stadia Maps with generous free tier, suitable for MapLibre GL JS 3D terrain.
MapLibre 3D terrain Stadia Maps basemap integration
Raster-dem tiles (Mapbox encoding) / PMTiles
OpenFreeMap Terrain (AWS Elevation)
Free open-source raster-dem terrain tiles served from AWS Open Data, compatible with MapLibre GL JS terrain rendering at no cost.
Free MapLibre 3D terrain Demos and prototypes
Raster-dem tiles (Mapbox encoding)
Mapbox Terrain Tiles
Mapbox-encoding global raster-dem terrain tiles from the Mapbox platform, available via Mapbox Studio and the Maps SDK with paid API access.
Mapbox GL JS terrain MapLibre 3D terrain
Raster-dem tiles (Terrarium)
AWS Open Data Elevation Tiles
Free Terrarium-encoded global terrain tiles served from AWS S3 Open Data, directly usable in MapLibre as a raster-dem source with no API key.
Free MapLibre 3D terrain Open-data terrain layers
Recommended elevation workflow
How to choose a source
- Use OpenTopography for quick bbox-based DEM download when you need a simple global entry point.
- Use Copernicus DEM, AW3D30, or ASTER GDEM for a widely cited 30m global raster; NASADEM for improved tropical and high-latitude coverage.
- Use 中国地理空间数据云 (gscloud.cn) for China-focused SRTM and terrain data; 国家基础地理信息中心 for authoritative Chinese basemap elevation.
- Use ArcticDEM or REMA for high-resolution polar terrain; GEBCO or ETOPO1 for ocean bathymetry and global topography-bathymetry.
- Open the downloaded GeoTIFF in GeoDataViewer Studio or QGIS for inspection and styling.
Category FAQ
Category FAQ
Which free DEM should I start with for global work?
OpenTopography and Copernicus DEM are the most practical starting points for global coverage. AW3D30 and ASTER GDEM provide strong alternatives, and NASADEM improves on SRTM in tropical and high-latitude areas.
Do these DEM pages give me direct downloads or official portals?
Both. Each page keeps an official source URL plus the most useful direct or API-style download path when one is available.
Where can I get Chinese elevation data?
中国地理空间数据云 (gscloud.cn) and 国家基础地理信息中心 (NGCC) provide China-focused SRTM and terrain datasets. 中国资源卫星中心 (CRESDA) offers ZY-3 and Gaofen stereo DEMs. CGIAR-CSI SRTM also offers void-filled global coverage including China.
What about polar and ocean elevation?
ArcticDEM provides 2m–100m coverage north of 60°N, REMA covers Antarctica, and GEBCO/ETOPO1 offer global ocean bathymetry and combined topography-bathymetry rasters.
How do I add 3D terrain to a MapLibre GL JS map?
Use a raster-dem source with Terrarium or Mapbox encoding. Free options include AWS Elevation Tiles (Terrarium, no API key) and OpenFreeMap (Mapbox encoding, no key). Paid options with CDN SLAs include MapTiler (Terrarium) and Stadia Maps. Add the source, set encoding, and enable terrain on the map style.