dataset · England
SurfZone Digital Elevation Model (DEM) - 2m
The SurfZone Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was produced in 2019. Combining LIDAR and near-shore multibeam SONAR Bathymetry elevation data, it is the best currently available Digital Elevation Model (DEM) covering the inter-tidal zone produced by the Environment Agency. The EA SurfZone DEM 2019 is supplied as a tiled raster dataset in GeoTiff format. Each tile is 5km * 5km and aligned to the Ordinance Survey National Grid. Each pixel represents 2 metres spatial resolution on the ground and elevat
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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: 57.3
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
- LIDAR elevation data · near-shore multibeam SONAR bathymetry · merged DEM surface for the inter-tidal zone
- Coverage docs-verified
- England inter-tidal zone (coastal), latitude 50° to 55.8°N, longitude -5.7° to 1.8°E · Produced 2019 (survey and DEM production)
- Resolution docs-verified
- 2 m pixel spacing on the ground
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Not planned (no scheduled updates)
- Formats docs-verified
- GeoTIFF
- Access docs-verified
- Free and open; Open Government Licence v3.0; no public access constraints; attribution to the Environment Agency and the relevant regional coastal monitoring programme councils is required
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Ground levels for coastal flood risk models in the inter-tidal zone · Tidal boundary elevation inputs for drainage outfall or coastal discharge assessments · Terrain baseline for shoreline change and coastal erosion studies
- Audience llm-inferred
- flood consultants · coastal engineers · hydrologists · GIS analysts
Limitations
- Constraints llm-inferred
- Dataset is from 2019 and is not scheduled for update · Survey source (LIDAR or bathymetry) varies by location; check the Metadata Index Catalogue for each area · Small gaps between LIDAR and bathymetry surveys were bilinearly interpolated · Regional attribution statements are required for reuse · Isles of Scilly elevations are referenced to St Marys rather than Newlyn
Evidence
- https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=463763b4-8fc0-44a8-951f-1f49f43bc391&fileName=SurfZone DEM Data Technical Information Guide.docx
- https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/fe455db0-5ce5-4d63-8b38-d74612eb43d5/surfzone-digital-elevation-model-dem-2m
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.