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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Continuously Updated Digital Elevation Model (CUDEM) - 1/3 Arc-Second Resolution Bathymetric-Topographic Tiles

NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is developing a suite of digital elevation models (DEMs) for the U.S. coast to support a variety of NOAA missions, including improved inundation modeling and mapping, habitat characterization, and visualization of Earth's surface. The DEMs are being developed according to a 0.25 degree tiling scheme. The spatial resolution of the tiles "telescopes" from the coastal zone to the deep ocean floor at 1/9, 1/3, and 3 arc-second grid resolution. Only the 1/9 arc-second DEM tiles integrate both bathymetric and topographic data; all other resolutions map bathymetry only. The tiling of the DEMs facilitates targeted, rapid updates as new coastal and marine elevation data are acquired and become available. Bathymetric and topographic data utilized for DEM creation originate from a variety of sources, including (but not limited to) the NOAA Office of Coast Survey, NOAA National Geodetic Survey, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Cite as: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. 2014: Continuously Updated Digital Elevation Model (CUDEM) - 1/3 Arc-Second Resolution Bathymetric-Topographic Tiles. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/0mpp-h192. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:999913
Download Data
  • Download NetCDF Files (download)
    THREDDS Data Server containing the Continuously Updated Digital Elevation Model (CUDEM) Bathymetric-Topographic Tiles.
  • Customized Download (download)
    Create custom data files by choosing data area, product type, map projection, file format, datum, etc.
Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: 4 Classic)
  • Geotiff
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact DEM Information
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
dem.info@noaa.gov
Time Period
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4269urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::5703urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::5715urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::6641urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::6642urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::6644urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::6640urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::6643
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -127
East: -65
South: 23
North: 52
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2014-12-09
  • creation: 2014-12-09
  • lastUpdate: 2023
Data Presentation Form mapDigital
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose This data is available to the public for a wide variety of uses including scientific research and analysis.
Use Limitations
  • Not to be used for navigation. Although these data are of high quality and useful for planning and modeling purposes, they are not suitable for navigation. For navigation, please refer to the NOS nautical chart series.
  • Produced by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Not subject to copyright protection within the United States.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. 2014: Continuously Updated Digital Elevation Model (CUDEM) - 1/3 Arc-Second Resolution Bathymetric-Topographic Tiles. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/0mpp-h192. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
  • Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords NGDA Portfolio Themes
  • Elevation Theme
  • NGDA
  • National Geospatial Data Asset
  • NGDAID200
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seafloor Topography
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Bathymetry
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Water Depth
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Topography > Terrain Elevation
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coastal Elevation
Uncontrolled
  • Coastal Relief
  • Gridded elevations
  • Integrated bathymetry and topography
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Models/Analyses > DEM > Digital Elevation Model
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States of America
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Floor
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 meter - < 30 meters
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords
  • < 1 meter
Use Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Other Constraints Cite as: Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. 2014: Continuously Updated Digital Elevation Model (CUDEM) - 1/3 Arc-Second Resolution Bathymetric-Topographic Tiles. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/0mpp-h192. Accessed [date].
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processor
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Processing Steps
  • 2018-02-01T00:00:00 - Common horizontal reference frames and vertical datums are established among disparate data and data are converted to a common data format, ASCII xyz, prior to gridding/interpolating. A variety of software can be used for projection/datum transformations and format conversions, including (but not limited to) Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) software utilities, VDatum, ArcGIS, LAStools, etc. Once consistency among the input source data is established, the DEM surface is created through gridding and interpolation. Elevations in grid-cells constrained by source measurements are assigned a value according to a weighted average of all samples located within the particular cell, while elevations in unconstrained grid-cells are estimated through interpolation. Please see the DEM technical reports for a more detailed explanation of specific processing steps.
Source Datasets
  • DEM Development Reports
    • DEM Development Reports (download)
      Please refer to the DEM Development Reports for detailed information regarding the source data used in creation of a specific DEM tile.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution:DEM source data
  • VDatum Vertical Datum Transformation software
    • VDatum (download)
      VDatum Vertical Datum Transformation software
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: vertical datum transformation tool ; Source Type: online
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-10-19
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov