Featured Data Product

Download CAD-Ready LiDAR Data in Minutes

Get site-specific LiDAR data sourced directly from trusted government datasets, already clipped, cleaned, and ready to use in your design software. 

Join other leading infrastructure designers on Equator

Why access LiDAR point clouds in Equator?

Did you know?

Equator instantly delivers site-ready data from massive sources like USGS 3DEP. With billions of LiDAR points built in, saving engineers, designers, and architects countless hours.

Fast and Easy

Find, view, clip and download LiDAR point clouds in less than a minute.

CAD-Ready Formats

Export LiDAR as LAZ point clouds or DWG contour files.

Create Contours and DEMs

Automatically generate contours, DEMs, and other elevation models from LiDAR point clouds.

How it Works

Step 1: Setup A Site

Search for your location in the search bar. Then, click on the “New Site” Button in the bottom menu.

LiDAR Site Setup

Step 2: Select Point Cloud

Go to the Data menu (left side bar). Then, scroll the list of data products to find Point Cloud.

Step 3: Download Data

Go to the Layer menu (left side bar). Then, click on the blue download button beside the Point Cloud layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clip a huge LiDAR dataset down to just my project site?

This is one of the biggest pain points engineers and architects share online. Equator’s workflow starts with your site boundary — not the entire dataset. You simply draw or upload a site polygon, and Equator clips the point cloud to that exact area automatically. The result is a lightweight, focused file that’s fast to load and easy to work with.

Generate Data Products

Is there a simple way to extract topography or surfaces from point clouds?

Yes — Equator can convert LiDAR points into digital elevation models (DEMs), contours, or terrain layers automatically. That means you can go from a raw cloud to usable topography in minutes, without manual point classification or line extraction workflows.

Generate Data Products

Can I get LiDAR data without expensive software or specialized tools?

Absolutely. Equator runs entirely in the browser — no specialized hardware or software required. Anyone on your team can search, preview, clip, and export point clouds without needing Recap, TopoDOT, or GIS experience.

Generate Data Products
Building Footprints Coverage in Canada and the US

What formats can I export LiDAR data in?

Equator supports the most common industry formats — including LAS, LAZ, GeoTIFF, DWG, and SHP — so you can plug the data directly into your existing workflows. You can also download contour lines, elevation grids, or surface models if those are more useful than raw points.

Generate Data Products

Do I need to know scripting or GIS to work with LiDAR?

Not at all. Equator is designed to make high-quality geospatial data accessible without technical expertise. You don’t need to write scripts, run PDAL pipelines, or clean data manually — the platform does the heavy lifting for you.

Generate Data Products
Building Footprints in AutoCAD Civil3D

What level of accuracy can I expect from public LiDAR data for engineering design?

Publicly available LiDAR data can range from 5 cm to 30 cm vertical accuracy, but many engineers struggle to find and verify that information. Equator sources LiDAR directly from trusted federal, state/provincial, and municipal agencies — and provides metadata on accuracy and collection date so you know exactly what you’re working with. This transparency helps you determine whether the data is suitable for preliminary design, planning, or detailed engineering work.

Generate Data Products
Building Footprints in AutoCAD Civil3D

Raw LiDAR data can be messy. Massive files, inconsistent point density, and unclassified points that make them hard to use. Equator automatically delivers clean, site-specific point clouds clipped to your area of interest and exported in standard formats (like LAS, LAZ, or DWG). That means you skip the hours of preprocessing and go straight to using the data in CAD, BIM, or GIS.

Equator automatically delivers point clouds in the correct spatial reference system, so you don’t have to waste time transforming coordinates or aligning data to your project base. Just select your site, choose your output format, and download — your data is ready to drop into Revit, Civil 3D, QGIS, or any design environment.

Merging data sources manually is tricky and error-prone. Equator helps by allowing you to visualize LiDAR alongside contours, imagery, parcels, and other spatial layers in one place before export. You can overlay and compare datasets, ensuring they align before bringing them into your modeling environment.

Yes. Many governments and organizations publish open datasets, such as Microsoft’s U.S. Building Footprints or Statistics Canada’s Open Database of Buildings. However, these datasets are usually very large and require processing before they’re usable, which is why many professionals prefer tools like Equator that deliver site-specific data instantly.

With Equator, you can rapidly access LiDAR point clouds that show real-world existing conditions of your site — no need for manual scanning or third-party surveys in many cases. This is ideal for creating as-built models, validating site elevations, or integrating existing infrastructure into your design workflow.

Generating topography from raw LiDAR often requires complex GIS software or scripting — but not with Equator. Our platform can automatically process point clouds into contour lines, DEMs, or TIN surfaces in just a few clicks. Whether you’re designing a grading plan, stormwater system, or preliminary site layout, you can export accurate elevation data directly into CAD without a complicated workflow.

Many engineers waste hours converting and cleaning point clouds before importing them into CAD. Equator eliminates that friction by letting you clip, process, and export LiDAR directly in DWG, LAS, or GeoTIFF formats — perfectly aligned and ready to use. That means no more Recap prep, no manual coordinate transforms, and no wrestling with multi-GB files before you can start designing.

For many projects, commissioning a full topographic survey can take weeks and cost thousands — but often, you just need a reliable picture of existing grades, structures, or terrain. Equator gives you instant access to high-resolution LiDAR data and elevation models for most locations, so you can validate site conditions in minutes. Whether you’re doing early-stage feasibility studies, preliminary design, or cross-checking contractor work, Equator provides an accurate starting point without waiting for new field data.