Reference · built on requestCommons signalPlaces & geographic reference

OpenTopography Global DEM API

Global digital elevation model raster clipping for SRTM, NASADEM, Copernicus DEM, ALOS, and GEBCO from OpenTopography.

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About

OpenTopography provides operational access to high-resolution topography and global digital elevation models (DEMs). Its Global DEM API enables programmatic clipping and downloading of continuous elevation surfaces including SRTM (30m and 90m), NASADEM, Copernicus DEM (GLO-30 and GLO-90), ALOS World 3D (AW3D30), and GEBCO global bathymetry and topography based on user-defined bounding boxes.

Through Fibric, an operator references terrain elevations and surface slopes across facility footprints, telematics transit paths, or solar installations to evaluate terrain roughness, flood risk profiles, and haul route energy demands.

This is a reference listing. It documents what Fibric would read from OpenTopography Global DEM API and what it could propose, based on the publisher's published interfaces. Fibric builds it under a managed deployment when you request it; selecting it here installs nothing.

Inputs

  • Digital elevation raster clips in GeoTIFF, AAIGrid, and IMG formats across user-specified bounding boxes
  • High-resolution Copernicus Global DEM at 30-meter and 90-meter spatial resolutions
  • NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM GL1 and GL3) elevation datasets
  • NASADEM improved global elevation model surfaces reprocessed from original radar telemetry
  • ALOS World 3D (AW3D30) 30-meter global elevation raster tiles produced by JAXA

Proposed actions

Read-only. This feed informs operators; it changes nothing.

Proposed actions are target capabilities. Every action runs propose-first and needs a validated deployment and the appropriate permissions.

What you can build

  • Calculate route gradient and elevation profile for heavy haul

    Sample elevation models along proposed freight corridors to predict hill climbing energy demands, brake wear, and transit delays.

    With Field Dispatch, Route Resequence

  • Assess facility terrain slope and flood vulnerability

    Clip local Copernicus 30-meter DEM rasters around logistics centers to compute terrain slope and run-off vulnerabilities during severe storm warnings.

    With Site Benchmark, Severe Weather Notice

Requirements

  • Valid OpenTopography API key obtained through an OpenTopography user account
  • Bounding box coordinates formatted as south, north, west, and east decimal degree limits
  • GIS raster library or GDAL tools to ingest and process GeoTIFF digital elevation models
Authentication
API key. OpenTopography requires a free registered API key passed via query parameter (APIKey) for automated DEM clipping requests.

Limits

  • Daily API call quotas and request rate limits enforced per registered API key
  • Maximum geographic bounding box extent limited to 1.25 million square kilometers per request
  • Bathymetric and oceanic depths rely on GEBCO interpolations rather than sonar surveys

Access and pricing

Reference listing. Public feed access is separate from Fibric integration. If you request this feed, your quote covers the build, usage, and support.

Request OpenTopography Global DEM API ↗

Questions and answers

What elevation datasets can be queried through the API?
The API serves Copernicus DEM (30m and 90m), SRTM (GL1 and GL3), NASADEM, ALOS AW3D30, and GEBCO bathymetric grids.
How do I obtain an OpenTopography API key?
Sign up for a free user profile on the OpenTopography portal and request an API key under your user dashboard.
What file format does the API return?
The API outputs GeoTIFF rasters by default, with options for Arc ASCII Grid (AAIGrid) or ERDAS Imagine (.img) formats.
Ask about OpenTopography Global DEM API

Ask about the capabilities and requirements in this listing.

For project-specific requirements, contact Fibric.

This Commons signal listing is developed, published, and supported by Fibric. It reads public data published by OpenTopography (San Diego Supercomputer Center / NSF). Upstream agencies and projects are the property of their respective owners, who are not affiliated with Fibric and do not sponsor or endorse this listing. Trademark policy