High accuracy elevation data
Our National Elevation Programme provides LiDAR-based data for most of New Zealand. This open data is used in a range of fields, including:
- land management
- natural hazards
- climate change
- 3D visualisation
- surveying
- engineering
- construction
- communications
- archaeology.
Data is available now for the green areas in the image below, and surveying is planned or currently underway for the cross-hatched areas. No data is available or planned for the white areas.
The Elevation Aotearoa website has more detail of the areas covered. It also has estimates for when data will be available from surveys that are underway. Elevation Aotearoa has an interactive map, use case examples, and information on using LiDAR data.
- Elevation Aotearoa
- Access digital elevation models and recent point clouds: LINZ Data Service
- Access older point clouds: OpenTopography
- Access cloud optimised digital elevation models: AWS Registry of Open Data
LiDAR base specification
Our LiDAR base specification gives a foundation for public sector LiDAR procurement. It sets minimum standards to ensure point cloud data and digital elevation models can be included in the National Elevation Programme.
Seeking new data partnerships
We are keen to discuss partnerships to help grow and refresh this national resource. Please get in touch if you have data that could be added to the national dataset or are planning a LiDAR data collection project.
Email us at elevation@linz.govt.nz