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Open Topo Data

Open Topo Data

Open Topo Data is an elevation API.
Host your own or use the free public API.

Open Topo Data is a REST API server for your elevation data.

curl https://api.opentopodata.org/v1/test-dataset?locations=56,123

{
    "results": [{
        "elevation": 815.0,
        "location": {
            "lat": 56.0,
            "lng": 123.0
        },
        "dataset": "test-dataset"
    }],
    "status": "OK"
}

You can self-host with your own dataset or use the free public API which is configured with a number of open elevation datasets. The API is largely compatible with the Google Maps Elevation API.

Host your own

Install docker and git then run:

git clone https://github.com/ajnisbet/opentopodata.git
cd opentopodata
make build
make run

This will start an Open Topo Data server on http://localhost:5000/.

Open Topo Data supports a wide range of raster file formats and tiling schemes, including most of those used by popular open elevation datasets.

See the server docs for more about configuration, adding datasets, and running on Windows and M1 Macs.

Usage

Open Topo Data has a single endpoint: a point query endpoint that returns the elevation at a single point or a series of points.

curl https://api.opentopodata.org/v1/test-dataset?locations=56.35,123.90

{
    "results": [{
        "elevation": 815.0,
        "location": {
            "lat": 56.0,
            "lng": 123.0
        },
        "dataset": "test-dataset"
    }],
    "status": "OK"
}

The interpolation algorithm used can be configured as a request parameter, and locations can also be provided in Google Polyline format.

See the API docs for more about request and response formats.

Public API

I'm hosting a free public API at api.opentopodata.org.

To keep the public API sustainable some limitations are applied.

  • Max 100 locations per request.
  • Max 1 call per second.
  • Max 1000 calls per day.

The following datasets are available on the public API, with elevation shown for downtown Denver, Colorado (39.7471, -104.9963).

Dataset name Resolution Extent Source API link (Denver, CO)
nzdem8m 8 m New Zealand. LINZ Not in dataset bounds
ned10m ~10 m Continental USA, Hawaii, parts of Alaska. USGS 1590 m
eudem25m 25 m Europe. EEA Not in dataset bounds
mapzen ~30 m Global, inluding bathymetry. Mapzen 1590 m
aster30m ~30 m Global. NASA 1591 m
srtm30m ~30 m Latitudes -60 to 60. USGS 1604 m
srtm90m ~90 m Latitudes -60 to 60. USGS 1603 m
bkg200m 200 m Germany. BKG Not in dataset bounds
etopo1 ~1.8 km Global, including bathymetry and ice surface elevation near poles. NOAA 1596 m
gebco2020 ~450m Global bathymetry and land elevation. GEBCO 1603 m
emod2018 ~100m Bathymetry for ocean and sea in Europe. EMODnet Not in dataset bounds

See the API docs for more about request formats and parameters.

Support

Need some help getting Open Topo Data running? Send me an email at [email protected]!

If you need an elevation API service with high-quality 1m lidar data, check out my sister project GPXZ.

The GPXZ Elevation API offers the following features:

For more details, reach out to [email protected].

Paid hosting funds the development of Open Topo Data and keeps the public API free.