The LiDAR Point Clouds is a product that is part of the CanElevation Series created to support the National Elevation Data Strategy implemented by NRCan. This product contains point clouds from various airborne LiDAR acquisition projects conducted in Canada. These airborne LiDAR acquisition projects may have been conducted by NRCan or by various partners. The LiDAR point cloud data is licensed under an open government license and has been incorporated into the National Elevation Data Strategy. Point cloud files are distributed by LiDAR acquisition project without integration between projects. The point cloud files are distributed using the compressed .LAZ / Cloud Optimized Point Cloud (COPC) format. The COPC open format is an octree reorganization of the data inside a .LAZ 1.4 file. It allows efficient use and visualization rendering via HTTP calls (e.g. via the web), while offering the capabilities specific to the compressed .LAZ format which is already well established in the industry. Point cloud files are therefore both downloadable for local use and viewable via URL links from a cloud computing environment. The reference system used for all point clouds in the product is NAD83(CSRS), epoch 2010. The projection used is the UTM projection with the corresponding zone. Elevations are orthometric and expressed in reference to the Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum of 2013 (CGVD2013).

Canada Base Map Elevation (CBME) consists of a simple light hillshade for use as a background for mapping application. The Canada Atlas Lambert (EPSG:3978) is used and only covers the extents of Canada.

Major Drainage Areas (MDA), as portrayed in this map, are part of the Standard Drainage Area Classification (SDAC) which was developed by Natural Resources Canada, in partnership with Statistics Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. A drainage area, as opposed to a drainage basin or watershed, is a unit of statistical aggregation used for reporting purposes based upon drainage patterns and the underlying basins, delimited by a drainage divide. A drainage basin, sometimes called a watershed, is an area where all surface water shares the same drainage outlet. Surface water consists of water flowing on the surface of the earth that develops into larger streams and eventually combines to form a river. The 11 MDAs presented in this map comprise the uppermost level in the drainage area classification system which then divides into 164 sub-drainage areas, and then is further divided into 974 sub-sub-drainage areas. Relief was derived from the merging of two raster data sets, both resampled to 804 metre resolution: - High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) – CanElevation Series - Canadian Digital Elevation Model, 1945-2011 Further information on all these maps can be found on the Atlas of Canada web site atlas.gc.ca.

The Atlas of Canada's Relief Map shows Canada's relief with a colour ramp of elevation ranges. Colour tints of depth ranges show ocean bathymetry. This map shows the relief of Canada using three different resolutions. Starting with low resolution, as you zoom in, it transitions to medium and then high resolution. The low resolution is derived from the merging of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) from 2021 and the legacy Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM), 1945-2011, resampled to 804 metres. The medium resolution is the NRCan, Medium Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM) from 2024, with modifications by the Atlas of Canada for cartographic purposes. The high resolution is NRCan's 2021 HRDEM product with 1 metre pixels. Also included, is a bathymetric layer from GEBCO 2021 (https://download.gebco.net/) resampled to 804 metre pixels. Other sources: Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities; Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) 2021; Government of Iceland; United States. National Geodetic Survey’s Integrated Database, 2021 (https://geodesy.noaa.gov/) All layers have been symbolized to match the Atlas of Canada Relief wall map. Copies of this map may be obtained from authorized map dealers in Canada, USA and abroad. For further information on purchasing the paper map MCR 0101 or downloading the digital version free of charge, go to atlas.gc.ca. Produced by the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, Natural Resources Canada. Printed in 2025. ISBN 978-0-660-37948-7 Catalogue No. m57-1/46-2021e Permanent link: https://doi.org/10.4095/pe5mnk08hr Further information on all these maps can be found on the Atlas of Canada web site atlas.gc.ca.

This LiDAR DEM, originated from the Government of Manitoba (2019-05), was hydro-conditioned with a recent culvert inventory including GIS data from the Province of Manitoba for provincial highways as well as hard copy maps from the Rural Municipality of Lorne. It also included GPS and desktop surveys as part of a collaborative effort between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swan Lake First Nation, and Pembina Valley Watershed District. The hydro-conditioned DEM was used by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) as input for hydrological modelling of catchments near Swan Lake flowing into the Pembina River (Pembina River Watershed, MB) to spatially target water-related agricultural beneficial management practices (e.g, flood management infrastructure, water retention structures, nutrient and sediment load reduction practices). The DEM spatial extent represents the area of interest referred to as the “Swan Lake Study Area”, as part of the Eastern Prairies Living Lab, AAFC (2019-2023).

In July and August of 2019, a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) project was undertaken in Canada’s western Arctic along the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk (ITH) and Dempster highways. The objective of this project was to test long-range RPAS missions for photogrammetric data acquisition and processing of these two Arctic highway corridors with embankments, bridges and culverts at risk of changing environmental and climatic regimes. The imagery was used to derive an orthomosaic and digital elevation model that could be used to measure road infrastructure and landscape change over time (e.g., fish habitat). The RPAS missions were conducted with a Griffon SeaHunter and full-frame DSLR sensor and scoped to obtain <10 cm spatial resolution imagery along a combined 396 linear km. The final deliverables covered over 22,000 ha and 29,000 ha for the ITH and Dempster Highways, respectively, and represent one of the first non-military beyond-visual-line-of-sight RPAS data products of its kind and scale in Canada, and likely elsewhere. At the time of collection the data constituted the most current and detailed photo surveys of two of Canada’s most northern highways constructed over ice-rich permafrost terrain, and will provide a valuable baseline to study past and future landscape change.

The High Resolution Digital Elevation Model Mosaic provides a unique and continuous representation of the high resolution elevation data available across the country. The High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) product used is derived from airborne LiDAR data (mainly in the south) and satellite images in the north. The mosaic is available for both the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and the Digital Surface Model (DSM) from web mapping services. It is part of the CanElevation Series created to support the National Elevation Data Strategy implemented by NRCan. This strategy aims to increase Canada's coverage of high-resolution elevation data and increase the accessibility of the products. Unlike the HRDEM product in the same series, which is distributed by acquisition project without integration between projects, the mosaic is created to provide a single, continuous representation of strategy data. The most recent datasets for a given territory are used to generate the mosaic. This mosaic is disseminated through the Data Cube Platform, implemented by NRCan using geospatial big data management technologies. These technologies enable the rapid and efficient visualization of high-resolution geospatial data and allow for the rapid generation of dynamically derived products. The mosaic is available from Web Map Services (WMS), Web Coverage Services (WCS) and SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) collections. Accessible data includes the Digital Terrain Model (DTM), the Digital Surface Model (DSM) and derived products such as shaded relief and slope. The mosaic is referenced to the Canadian Height Reference System 2013 (CGVD2013) which is the reference standard for orthometric heights across Canada. Source data for HRDEM datasets used to create the mosaic is acquired through multiple projects with different partners. Collaboration is a key factor to the success of the National Elevation Strategy. Refer to the “Supporting Document” section to access the list of the different partners including links to their respective data.

In July and August of 2019, a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) project was undertaken in Canada’s western Arctic along the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk (ITH) and Dempster highways. The objective of this project was to test long-range RPAS missions for photogrammetric data acquisition and processing of these two Arctic highway corridors with embankments, bridges and culverts at risk of changing environmental and climatic regimes. The imagery was used to derive an orthomosaic and digital elevation model that could be used to measure road infrastructure and landscape change over time (e.g., fish habitat). The RPAS missions were conducted with a Griffon SeaHunter and full-frame DSLR sensor and scoped to obtain <10 cm spatial resolution imagery along a combined 396 linear km. The final deliverables covered over 22,000 ha and 29,000 ha for the ITH and Dempster Highways, respectively, and represent one of the first non-military beyond-visual-line-of-sight RPAS data products of its kind and scale in Canada, and likely elsewhere. At the time of collection the data constituted the most current and detailed photo surveys of two of Canada’s most northern highways constructed over ice-rich permafrost terrain, and will provide a valuable baseline to study past and future landscape change.

Canada Center for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO)'s basemap is essential in supporting the Government of Canada’s priorities in areas such as open government, climate change mitigation, Indigenous reconciliation, emergency management, disaster preparedness and response, sustainable natural resource management, infrastructure planning, economy/labour and more. It reinforces CCMEO’s commitment to improving the accessibility, interoperability and integration of geospatial data across Canada. CCMEO currently offers multiple basemap types which include the following found in this series: - Transportation basemap (CBMT) in raster tile format - Transportation basemap (CBMT) in vector tile format EPSG: 3857 (WGS84 Pseudo-Mercator) - Transportation basemap (CBMT) in vector tile format EPSG: 3978 (NAD83 Canada Atlas Lambert) - Digital Elevation Model (DEM) - hillshade basemap (CBME) - Simple grey basemap - Provinces/Territories basemap - Grids (Lat/Long, NTS and UTM) basemap

**ATTENTION! The files in this dataset are designed for streaming, not downloading. For the best experience, please follow the instructions available in the resources.** In replacement of the former Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM) that is no longer supported, the Medium Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM) product is a multi-source product that integrates elevation data from the Copernicus DEM** acquired during the TanDEM-X Mission (AIRBUS, 2022), and the High Resolution Digital Elevation Model data derived from airborne lidar. This product provides a complete, 30 meters resolution, nationwide coverage for Canada. It includes a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and other derived products. The spatial coverage extends into the USA, where needed, to provide coverage for cross-border watersheds in support of hydrological studies and applications. The MRDEM DSM dataset is based on the GLO-30 version of the Copernicus DEM** (hereafter named GLO-30). The process to generate the MRDEM DTM dataset is more complex and involves different sources. Where available, the HRDEM Mosaic derived from lidar was used since it already provides reliable terrain elevation values. The HRDEM Mosaic data used was resampled from 1 meter to 30 meters. Elsewhere, the processing workflow combines a forest removal model and a settlement removal model that is applied to the GLO-30 values in order to estimate the terrain elevation values. Both datasets are projected to Canada Atlas Lambert NAD83 (CSRS) (EPSG:3979). The MRDEM is referenced to the CGVD2013 which is the reference standard for orthometric heights across Canada. The product Medium Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM) is part of the CanElevation Series created in support to the National Elevation Data Strategy implemented by NRCan. ** This product was in part produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014- 2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved. The organisations in charge of the Copernicus program by law or by delegation do not incur any liability for any use of the Copernicus WorldDEM-30.