Instantly extract high-resolution LiDAR elevation data across vast regions of North America—whether you need precision terrain models for drainage planning, VRT management zones, or civil site analysis, we’ve got you covered!

📍 United States – Near-Complete LiDAR Coverage

Access LiDAR-derived elevation data from nearly anywhere in the U.S., with resolutions as high as 40cm, depending on location and dataset availability. Whether you’re working on a drainage system, engineering project, or precision ag analysis, you can quickly extract GeoTIFF elevation data at the best available resolution for your chosen area.

Large area requests? No problem! The system automatically tiles and resamples data when necessary, optimizing performance for smooth downloads and integration into GIS and agricultural software.

🍁 Canada – LiDAR Where Available, MRDEM for Agricultural Regions

LiDAR coverage in Canada varies by region, but checking availability is easy! Use the built-in lookup tool (or visit Geo-Surface.com) to see if your area is covered.

• If LiDAR is available: You’ll get high-resolution elevation data (typically 1-2m resolution) for your selected region.
• If LiDAR is NOT available: No worries! You can still extract elevation data using the Canadian MRDEM dataset, which provides 30m resolution elevation data—perfect for broad-scale management zone creation and terrain analysis.

🚜 Important: The MRDEM extractor is currently available only for the agricultural regions of the Canadian Prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta). If you’re working outside of these areas and LiDAR is unavailable, you may need to source alternative elevation data.

📏 Working with Large Files? We’ve Got You Covered!

LiDAR data can be extremely detailed, and large regions can result in huge file sizes—especially when working at high resolutions. If your dataset is too large to manage or if you’re converting GeoTIFF raster pixels to Shapefile points, the included online course will show you how to easily resample the data to a more manageable size using free, open-source QGIS software.

💡 Whether you need the highest resolution possible or a lightweight dataset for faster processing, you’ll have full control over your elevation data!

Accurate elevation data is critical for precision agriculture and land management—but finding, extracting, and converting it can be a challenge. The LiDAR Data Extractor gives you fast access to high-resolution terrain data, ready for use in your preferred precision ag or drainage software.

Use LiDAR Elevation Data to:

✅ Generate Management Zones for Variable Rate Applications

• Import elevation data into third-party VRT software to define management zones based on terrain variability.
• Elevation-based water flow and soil properties can help optimize seed, fertilizer, and input applications.

✅ Import Elevation Data into Third-Party Drainage Design Software

• Use LiDAR-based elevation models to create surface and tile drainage plans in specialized software.
• Improve drainage precision by identifying low spots, optimizing drainage paths, and ensuring proper slopes.

✅ Analyze Terrain to Optimize Field Drainage & Water Flow

• Elevation models help determine natural water flow and guide ditch, tile, and grading decisions.
• Identify areas prone to water pooling, erosion risks, and soil moisture variation.

💡 Important: This tool provides the raw elevation data—it does not generate management zones, drainage plans, or perform analysis. Users must know how to utilize the data within their own software solutions.

📚 Need to convert formats or adjust your LiDAR data?
The included training course covers the most common conversion and processing tasks in QGIS, including:

• Converting GeoTIFF elevation data to different formats (e.g., Shapefile, ASCII).
• Adjusting coordinate reference systems (CRS reprojection).
• Resampling high-resolution data for easier use in large-area processing.

Whether you’re fine-tuning precision ag applications or optimizing field drainage, the LiDAR Data Extractor ensures you get the best available elevation data—quickly and easily. 🚀

LiDAR-derived elevation data is a powerful asset for civil engineering, environmental analysis, and GIS professionals. Whether you’re planning infrastructure, conducting flood risk assessments, or managing land development projects, the LiDAR Data Extractor provides fast access to the most accurate elevation data available.

Use LiDAR Data for:

✅ Engineering, Flood Mapping & Environmental Analysis

• Analyze elevation changes for site planning, drainage, and flood mitigation.
• Model natural terrain features, water flow, and land suitability for infrastructure projects.
• Support environmental assessments with precise elevation data for wetlands, erosion studies, and watershed mapping.

✅ Seamless Integration with GIS & CAD Software

• GeoTIFF files can be used directly in QGIS, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, and most GIS applications—no conversion required.
• Extracted elevation data is available in EPSG:4326 (WGS84) or EPSG:3857 (Web Mercator), ready to drop into your workflows.
• If a different projection is needed (e.g., UTM or local CRS), the included training course covers reprojection and coordinate system adjustments in QGIS.

✅ Creating Smoothed Contour Maps from LiDAR

• One of the included QGIS lessons shows how to generate high-quality, smoothed contour maps from LiDAR data.
• These contours can be used in engineering plans, elevation visualizations, and land surveys, making it a valuable tool for civil applications.

💡 Need to refine your data for large-area projects? The training course will also show you how to resample high-resolution LiDAR data for more manageable processing while maintaining accuracy.

With fast, on-demand elevation extraction and the tools to refine your data, the LiDAR Data Extractor makes it easy to integrate high-resolution terrain models into engineering, GIS, and land planning workflows. 🚀

Your membership comes with exclusive access to a step-by-step online course developed and taught by Simon Knutson, designed to help you confidently work with LiDAR elevation data in QGIS.

Whether you’re brand new to LiDAR data or looking to refine your existing workflows, this course provides short, focused lessons (typically 5–15 minutes each) covering everything from the basics of LiDAR data to advanced processing techniques.

📚 Course Topics Covered:

📖 General Information & User Guide (Text Overviews)

• What is LiDAR? Understanding how LiDAR elevation data is captured and used.
• About the LiDAR Data Extractor – How it works and what it provides.
• Understanding Coordinate Reference Systems (CRS) – Why CRS matters for elevation data.
• Reprojecting Data – Converting between coordinate systems for different applications.
• Understanding LiDAR GeoTIFF Data – How elevation is stored in raster format.
• GeoTIFF vs. Shapefile – Key differences between raster and vector formats.

🎥 Hands-On Video Lessons in QGIS

Simon walks you through the most common LiDAR processing tasks, so you can quickly prepare and transform your elevation data for your specific needs:

• QGIS Installation & Setup

  • Downloading and installing QGIS (free, open-source GIS software).
  • Installing the QuickMapServices Plugin for enhanced basemap functionality.

• Common LiDAR Data Tasks in QGIS

  • Convert GeoTIFF Elevations from Meters to Feet – Useful for working in U.S.-based drainage and engineering projects.
  • Change GeoTIFF Coordinate System – Easily switch between EPSG:4326, EPSG:3857, UTM, and other projections.
  • Resample LiDAR Data Resolution – Optimize large datasets for smoother processing and analysis.
  • Convert LiDAR GeoTIFF to Shapefile Format – Extract raster elevation points into vector format for GIS and CAD applications.
  • Downloading LiDAR for Large Regions & Merging Tiles – Work with large-area LiDAR datasets by combining multiple tiles seamlessly.
  • Generate Vector Contours from LiDAR Data – Create smoothed contour layers from LiDAR elevation models, useful for drainage planning, civil engineering, and land analysis.

💡 Why This Training is Valuable

• Saves you time – No need to figure out LiDAR processing on your own.
• Gives you hands-on skills – Learn exactly how to prepare your LiDAR data for drainage software, VRT applications, GIS workflows, and more.
• Practical & to the point – No fluff, just actionable lessons designed to get you working with LiDAR data fast.

📌 Have a specific need? Members can request additional guidance if they need to process their LiDAR data for a unique application.

Bottom Line: With powerful tools and expert-led training, you’ll be able to extract, convert, and prepare LiDAR elevation data with confidence—no matter what software you use! 🚀