Illinois Height Modernization: Digital Elevation Data
Historically, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data for Illinois have mainly been based on 5- to 10-foot contour data. Large-scale, digital topographic maps are most common; many data resources contain elevation information acquired in the 1920s and 1930s. DEM data collections are now being developed based on data with a resolution of 2 feet to 6 inches. A comparison between older data and newer high-resolution data shows remarkable improvement in recorded detail.
ILHMP has established data sharing agreements to archive and distribute elevation data for select Illinois counties. Data have been acquired using Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) technology, in compliance with different contract specifications; data are offered as originally delivered, unless otherwise noted. It is important to remember that not all LiDAR data collections are designed to the same set of technical specifications. This LiDAR Glossary from the Applied Geomatics Research Group is useful, as is the Glossary with data examples from Terranean Mapping Technologies. Table 4.9 of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) LAS [File Format] Specification Version 1.3-R10 defines the standard classes which are used to delineate LiDAR returns into identified points for water, ground, building, etc.
To facilitate download of multiple data files, use the DownThemAll tool for Firefox. Contact S. Beaverson if you have data to share.
Access Data
2010 data acquired by Merrick for the Illinois Height Modernization Program
- Kendall County Data
- Bare Earth Grid, Tiles: 3.62 GB; 1,578 files
- First Return Grid, Tiles: 3.62 GB; 1,578 files
- DTM Grid, Tiles: 3.62 GB; 1,578 files
- LAS Classified: 30.4 GB; 1,578 files
- LAS (raw): 28 files each up to 1.8 GB in size
- Mosaic Grids: hill_dtm (560 MB), bare_earth (2.6 GB), dtm (2.6 GB), first_return (2.7 GB)
- DTM (geodatabase): 15.4 GB (not on-line due to file size)
- First Return Grid, Tiles: 3.62 GB; 1,578 files
2010 data acquired by Aero-Metric for NRCS for a 115 sq. mile area in Illinois
- Macoupin and Montgomery County Data
- LAS Unclassified(Flightlines): 17.1 GB; 28 files
- LAS Classified: 15.3 GB; 170 files
- DEM Bare Earth TXT: 2.6 GB; 165 files
- LAS Classified: 15.3 GB; 170 files
2009 data acquired by Aero-Metric for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Data files for Carroll, Henry, JoDaviess, Lee, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, and Whiteside Counties are offered individually, in a table designed to be an approximation of the county footprint. These data were acquired for IDOT District 2. Data were delivered in sub-sets roughly approximating each county, however data files WERE NOT duplicated between adjacent counties. Supplemental data from adjacent counties WILL BE needed to provide complete coverage for any given county. When there are only water return points for a given tile, only a First Return data file is provided. LAS data files are only available for Henry County.
Data file formats include a suite of .dat, .dgn, and .tin files for each data tile. These files were generated for GEOPAK, the civil engineering design software in use by the Federal Highway Administration at the request of IDOT. A .dat file is a data file used to create the .tin triangulated irregular network file. A .dgn file is a related design file.
Aero-Metric has created a set of statewide index tiling schemes (24 MB) with grid-spacing set at 10,000 feet, 5,000 feet, and 2,000 feet. The 2,000 foot tiling scheme for the State Plane West projection is suitable for data provided by Aero-Metric for IDOT. Attribute-level metadata pertaining to data delivered for each county are NOT included. These indexes are not suitable for data acquired by Aero-Metric prior to 2009.
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2008 data acquired by Aero-Metric for the USGS, USACE, IDNR, and Champaign and Kane Counties
ABGPS Survey Report for Champaign, Grundy, Kane and McHenry Counties
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2008 data acquired by Sanborn Mapping for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Peoria County.
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2007 data acquired by Sanborn Mapping for the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
LiDAR data files for Boone and Winnebago Counties are offered individually, in a table designed to be an approximation of the county footprint. Derivative data files are bundled into N-S flightlines.
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2006 data acquired by Aero-Metric for DuPage County
- DuPage County Data
- Related data: Index, Breaklines, Contours, etc.
- LAS - Classified: 42.6 GB; 421 files
- XYZ - Bare Earth: 23.1 GB; 421 files
- LAS - Classified: 42.6 GB; 421 files
2004 data acquired by Aero-Metric for Will County
- Will County Data
- Related data: Index, Contours, etc.
- DGN: 8.67 GB, 1,050 files
- XYZ - Bare Earth: 76.5 GB, 1, 028 files
- DGN: 8.67 GB, 1,050 files
Access Data from Other Agencies
USGS: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Data files for pools of the Mississippi River, including 1-meter Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, 0.5 meter Contour lines and 1-meter first and last return pool-wide Hillshade images. Access UMESC Digital LiDAR Derivatives. 1-meter Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), 0.5-meter Contour lines, and 1-meter first and last return pool-wide Hillshade images.
Illinois Counties
- Cook County
- 2007 data acquired by Merrick
- DeKalb County
- DeKalb County GIS, contact Bruce Hamilton and see the DeKalb County Information Release form.
- Macon County
- Macon County GIS Department
- McClean County
- McClean County Regional GIS Consortium, LidarData.com
- 2006 data acquired by Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc.
- 2006 data acquired by Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc.
- Madison County
- Madison County GIS
- St. Clair County
- LidarData.com, a small portion of St. Clair County as part of a 2007 acquisition for St. Louis, Missouri
- Wabash, White, and Edwards Counties
- LidarData.com, a small portion of Wabash, White, and Edwards Counties as part of a 2006 acquisition for Gibson County, Indiana
Data Delivery: Undergoing Archival Procedures
Data Delivery: Anticipated, Data To Be Acquired
- by County
- Adams, Alexander, Calhoun, Jersey, Lake, Union
- FEMA
- Piatt, Saline (partial), Wabash (partial)
- IDOT District 4: acquisition in Fall, 2011
- Fulton, Henderson, Knox, Marshall, McDonough, Mercer, (Peoria), Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford
- IDOT District 5: acquisition in Fall, 2011 or Spring, 2012
- (Champaign), Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, McLean, (Piatt), Vermilion
- IDOT District 7: acquisition completed in Spring, 2011; delivery estimated for Fall, 2011
- Clay, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Macon, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby, Wabash, Wayne
- IDOT District 9 (partial): acquisition in Fall, 2011
- Johnson (partial), Massac, Pulaski