LiDAR Coverage Map

Equator provides easy access to hundreds of millions of hectares of high-quality, government sourced LiDAR data. Check the LiDAR coverage map, and get started with free access to the largest library of LiDAR data online today!

LiDAR Derivatives Coverage Map

Equator expands your access to data through government sourced LiDAR-derived data. Check the LiDAR-derived coverage map, and get started with free access to the largest library of LiDAR data online today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LiDAR? LiDAR stands for Light Detection And Ranging, which uses laser pulses to measure distances. LiDAR is a type of laser scanning technology used for many different applications, from self-driving cars to scanning the surface of an object. Equator makes it easy to access airborne LiDAR survey data, typically used by engineers, architects, and other infrastructure professionals.

LiDAR point clouds are typically viewed using modern GIS or CAD software.  Equator helps LiDAR users find and view LiDAR data online without any special setup or training.  Read more about Equator’s LiDAR Viewer, or check out our gallery of beautiful LiDAR point cloud data examples.

LiDAR-derived data refers to datasets or information that are generated or derived from LiDAR point clouds. For example, LiDAR-derived data can include digital elevation models (DEMs), digital surface models (DSMs), or contour lines, among others. These derived datasets are created by processing the raw LiDAR data to create files that are generally smaller and easier to work with in various software.

In the U.S. high resolution LiDAR is available for approximately 85% of the country, with more being processed all the time. However, LiDAR-derived elevation data is available for the whole country, because it is much easier for the USGS to store and make broadly available online. The LiDAR-derived datasets come in 3m, 6m and 9m resolution. While they aren’t as detailed as LiDAR itself, they’re a great alternative in areas where no other data exists!