dataset · England
LIDAR Composite First Return Digital Surface Model (FZ_DSM) - 2m
The LIDAR Composite First Return DSM (Digital Surface Model) is a raster elevation model covering ~99% of England at 2m spatial resolution. The first return DSM is produced from the first or only laser pulse returned to the sensor and includes heights of objects, such as vehicles, buildings and vegetation, as well as the terrain surface where the first or only return was the ground. Produced by the Environment Agency in 2022, the first return DSM is derived from data captured as part of our nati
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Licence: ["There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.", "There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the
Evidence quality: 68
Listed in data.gov.uk public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- first return digital surface model (DSM), heights of objects and terrain · 2m raster elevation
- Coverage docs-verified
- England (~99%) · Survey data captured 11 November 2016 to 5 May 2022
- Resolution docs-verified
- 2m spatial
- Update frequency docs-verified
- annually
- Formats docs-verified
- GeoTIFF · WCS · WMS · WMTS · WFS · OGC API - Features
- Access docs-verified
- Free/open, no authentication; Open Government Licence v3.0
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Building and vegetation height screening for site constraints and civils route assessments · Feasibility-stage surface levels for drainage catchment delineation · Pre-survey elevation context for planning reports and GIS visualisation
- Audience llm-inferred
- flood consultants · drainage engineers · GIS analysts · civils engineers · planners
Limitations
- Constraints llm-inferred
- Surface model includes buildings and vegetation, so it is not a bare-earth terrain model · Covers ~99% of England only; no Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland · Survey dates range from 2016 to 2022, so it may not reflect current ground conditions · Survey source varies by location; check the survey index catalogues for the survey used · Coverage and extent differ from the last return DSM (LZ_DSM)
Evidence
- https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=390b1c76-e315-4de1-8a8e-064631a8217e&fileName=LIDAR Composite Technical Information Guide.docx
- https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/91804f3d-6a66-4056-94fb-2fa4a947604a/lidar-composite-first-return-digital-surface-model-fz-dsm-2m
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.