{"id":2940,"date":"2015-01-19T04:58:57","date_gmt":"2015-01-19T10:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/?p=2940"},"modified":"2025-08-03T07:47:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T12:47:14","slug":"top-6-free-lidar-data-sources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/top-6-free-lidar-data-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 6 Free LiDAR Data Sources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"LiDAR<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How to download free LiDAR data online<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Does it feel like a big challenge to find LiDAR data sources?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about free<\/em> LiDAR data<\/strong> sources?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We understand. LiDAR is a beast of a dataset to work with. What other GIS formats<\/a> have their OWN<\/strong><\/em> compression format (LAZ)? C’mon! Have you ever seen a shapefile with its OWN<\/em><\/strong> compression format?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fact alone makes LiDAR repositories national treasures<\/strong> in GIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as Dr. Evil would say *pinky in the mouth* – BRING OUT THE LASER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Dr.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

(Laser for LiDAR, of course). We\u2019re bringing out the lasers in this special post on 6 free LiDAR data sources.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. USGS Earth Explorer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"LiDAR<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Previously, users could access USGS LiDAR data through CLICK (Center for LiDAR Information Coordination and Knowledge). However, this service is now being provided by the USGS Earth Explorer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you want USGS Earth Explorer LiDAR data? If you’re new to this platform, we have a quick guide to downloading data on the USGS Earth Explorer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For LiDAR, it’s a simple process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, enter your search criteria (KML, coordinates, etc.). Next, select the checkbox for LiDAR in the data sets tab. Finally, click the results tab to see what LiDAR datasets are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n