Illinois Height Modernization: Digital Elevation Data

Historically, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data for Illinois are mainly based on 5- or 10-foot contours, depending on local relief and original map resolution. Large-scale, digital topographic maps are the most common example of these DEM data. Many of the most current data resources contain elevation information acquired in the 1920s and 1930s.

Modern techniques for data collection allow for improved data resolution; new DEM data collections are being developed based on 2-foot data for some Illinois counties using local government funding. In areas of low relief, the comparison between the older, low-resolution data and newer, high-resolution data shows remarkable improvement in visible detail.

We have established data sharing agreements to archive and distribute elevation data sets for some Illinois counties. Data were acquired using Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) techniques and include LIDAR point cloud data as well as derivative elevation data like contours and DEM files. Please contact S. Beaverson if you have other elevation data you are willing to share.

Data Delivery: Complete

Data for Boone and Winnebago Counties are on-line. Derivative data files are bundled into groups of N-S flightlines. Raw data files are offered individually, in a table designed to be an approximation of the county. We recommend the DownThemAll tool for Firefox to facilitate download of data files. Email S. Beaverson with feedback.

Boone County, 2007: Sanborn Mapping

Boone County ILHMP data

ArcGrids - Bare Earth DEM

Contours - 2 Foot

ENZ Files - Bare Earth

LAS Files - All Returns

Winnebago County, 2007: Sanborn Mapping

Winnebago County ILHMP data

ArcGrids - Bare Earth DEM

Contours - 2 Foot

ENZ Files - Bare Earth

LAS Files - All Returns

Data Delivery: Undergoing QA/QC and Archival Procedures

Carroll County, 2009: Aero-Metric

Metadata: IDOT_Carroll.xml

 

DAT Files: 30.5 GB; 3,297 files

DGN Files: 24.0 GB; 3,297 files

TIN Files: 79.5 GB; 3,297 files

 

XYZI First Return Files: 62.2 GB; 3,332 files

XYZI Bare Earth Files: 29.3GB; 3,297 files

JoDaviess County, 2009: Aero-Metric

Metadata: IDOT_JoDaviess.xml

 

DAT Files: 37.6 GB; 4,373 files

DGN Files: 30.4 GB; 4,373 files

TIN Files: 99.9 GB; 4,373 files

 

XYZI First Return Files: 47.2 GB; 4,377 files

XYZI Bare Earth Files: 36.9 GB; 4,373 files

Stephenson County, 2009: Aero-Metric

Metadata: IDOT_Stephenson.xml

 

DAT Files: 37.1 GB; 4,061 files

DGN Files: 29.2 GB; 4,062 files

TIN Files: 98.9 GB; 4,061 files

 

XYZI First Return Files: 72.5 GB; 4,062 files

XYZI Bare Earth Files: 36.5 GB; 4,062 files

Whiteside County, 2009: Aero-Metric

Metadata: IDOT_Whiteside.xml

Vertical Accuracy Report

 

DAT Files: 46.4 GB; 5,002 files

DGN Files: 36.1 GB; 5,017 files

TIN Files: 123.0 GB; 5,002 files

 

XYZI First Return Files: 91.7 GB; 5,022 files

XYZI Bare Earth Files: 44.9 GB; 4,997 files

Data Delivery: Rescheduled to expand data buffer

Champaign County, 2008: Aero-Metric

ABGPS Survey Report (for Champaign, Grundy, Kane and McHenry Counties)

Metadata: Champaign County

Vertical Assessment Report

Data Index (shapefile)

Index data (geodatabase)

 

Breaklines (shapefiles)

Contours (shapefiles)

 

XYZI Files - (First Returns? XYZ BE Files)

LAS Files - All Returns

Kane County, 2008: Aero-Metric

ABGPS Survey Report (for Champaign, Grundy, Kane and McHenry Counties)

Metadata: Kane County

Vertical Assessment Report

 

Breaklines

Contours

 

XYZI Files - (First Returns?)

LAS Files - All Returns

McHenry County, 2008: Aero-Metric

ABGPS Survey Report (for Champaign, Grundy, Kane and McHenry Counties)

Metadata: McHenry County

Vertical Assessment Report

 

Breaklines

Contours

 

XYZI Files - (First Returns?)

LAS Files - All Returns

Data Delivery: Has Not Started

Grundy County, 2008: Aero-Metric

ABGPS Survey Report (for Champaign, Grundy, Kane and McHenry Counties)

Vertical Assessment Report

Metadata: USACE Grundy County

 

Breaklines

Contours

 

XYZI Files - (First Returns?)

LAS Files - All Returns

Will County: Aero-Metric

Data Delivery: Anticipated, Data To Be Acquired

Adams: Sanborn Mapping

Henry: Aero-Metric

Lee: Aero-Metric

Ogle: Aero-Metric

Rock Island: Aero-Metric