Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial
What is ARSO LiDAR?
The Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) provides free, open access to high-resolution LiDAR data covering the entire country. Collected through national mapping initiatives, this dataset offers 1-meter resolution terrain models and classified point clouds for any application.
🇸🇮
Full Coverage
Entire Slovenia (~20,273 km²)
📏
1m Resolution
DTM and DSM products
🎯
2-5 pts/m²
Classified point clouds
🔓
Free Access
No registration required
Step-by-Step Download Guide
Navigate the ARSO Atlas Okolja Interface
Follow these steps to access and download LiDAR point cloud data from Slovenia’s ARSO portal. The interface is straightforward with English-like navigation.
ARSO GIS portal homepage with LiDAR download option
01
Access the ARSO Geoportal
Navigate to gis.arso.gov.si to access the ARSO GIS portal. The main page displays various thematic maps and data services available from the Slovenian Environment Agency.
Getting started:
- Click “Prenos Lidar podatkov” — LiDAR Data Download link
- No account needed: Downloads are completely free
- Multiple formats: LAZ, zLAS, and ASC available
02
Open the Atlas Okolja Map
The LiDAR viewer opens in the Atlas Okolja (Environmental Atlas) interface. You’ll see an interactive map of Slovenia with various environmental data layers.
Navigation tips:
- Sloji (Layers): Manage visible data layers in the sidebar
- Scroll wheel: Zoom in/out on the map
- Click and drag: Pan across Slovenia
Atlas Okolja interface showing the interactive map
Layer panel showing LiDAR tile grid options
03
Enable the LiDAR Tile Grid
In the Sloji (Layers) panel, enable one of the LiDAR tile grid options:
Two coordinate systems available:
- D48GK (EPSG:3912) — Older Slovenian national grid, compatible with legacy data
- D96TM (EPSG:3794) — Newer GPS-compatible system for modern projects
Each tile covers 1 km × 1 km. Enable the grid layer to see available tiles.
04
Click a Tile to Download
Click on any visible tile to open the download dialog with multiple format options:
Available formats:
- GKOT (laz): Full classified point cloud ✅ Recommended
- GKOT (zlas): Classified point cloud in ESRI format
- OTR (laz): Ground points only (ideal for DTM generation)
- DMR: Pre-computed DTM raster in ASC format
Each tile is approximately 15-30 MB for point cloud formats.
1 km × 1 km tile grid showing available LiDAR data
Available Data Products
Point Clouds and Terrain Models
Technical Specifications
📡 Data Specifications
File Format: LAZ, zLAS, ASC
Point Density: 2-5 points per m²
Resolution: 1 meter (DTM/DSM)
Tile Size: 1 km × 1 km
🗺️ Coordinate Systems
D48GK: EPSG:3912 (legacy Slovenian grid)
D96TM: EPSG:3794 (modern GPS-compatible)
Coverage: 100% of Slovenia
License: Free, attribution requested
File Format Comparison
Tips for Slovenia LiDAR Data
Bulk Downloads with QGIS
Legacy QGIS 2.x Plugin Available
⚙️ QGIS Plugin (Legacy Only)
The Lidar Slovenia Data Downloader plugin can batch-download multiple tiles by area selection.
⚠️ Important: Only works with QGIS 2.x (legacy versions). Not compatible with QGIS 3.x.
📥 Manual Bulk Downloads
1. Download tiles manually via web portal
2. Use browser download manager for queuing
3. Verify downloads with CloudCompare
4. Contact ARSO for complete datasets
Processing Your Downloaded Data
Once you have downloaded your Slovenia LAZ files, you’ll need to process them to extract useful products. Lidarvisor offers a streamlined workflow for processing point clouds.
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! All data from the ARSO eVode portal is free for both commercial and non-commercial use. Attribution to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning / Slovenian Environment Agency is requested but not legally required.
D48GK (EPSG:3912) is the older Slovenian national grid. Most legacy GIS data from GURS uses this system, making it better for compatibility with existing datasets.
D96TM (EPSG:3794) is the newer system gradually replacing D48GK. Use it for new projects or when working with GPS-surveyed data.
Point density varies across the dataset but is typically 2-5 points per square meter, which is suitable for most applications including terrain analysis, forestry assessments, and general mapping purposes.
Choose LAZ unless you work exclusively in ArcGIS. LAZ is an open format supported by virtually all LiDAR software including QGIS, CloudCompare, PDAL, LAStools, and Lidarvisor. zLAS is proprietary to ESRI and has limited support outside their ecosystem.
The portal only allows single-tile downloads through the web interface. For bulk downloads, consider using the QGIS plugin (requires legacy QGIS 2.x), downloading tiles manually in batches, or contacting ARSO directly about obtaining complete datasets.
No. The Lidar Slovenia Data Downloader plugin only works with QGIS 2.x (legacy versions). It has not been updated for QGIS 3.x compatibility. QGIS 3 users need to download tiles manually through the web portal.