Step-by-Step Tutorial
What Data is Available?
The UK Environment Agency provides free LiDAR data collected for flood risk management across England.
Step-by-Step Download Guide
1
Go to the Data Portal
Navigate to environment.data.gov.uk/survey — the Environment Agency’s official survey data portal.
The portal features an interactive map showing data coverage across England, with tools for searching by location and selecting data products.
No registration required — you can browse and download data immediately.
The DEFRA Survey Data Download portal with the Download panel open
The Layers panel showing available data categories
2
Browse Available Layers
Click the “Layers” button in the green toolbar to see all available data categories:
- LIDAR Composite Catalogues — Combined DTM/DSM products
- LIDAR Point Cloud Catalogues — Raw LAZ point clouds
- LIDAR DTM Time Stamped — Historical terrain models
- LIDAR DSM Time Stamped — Historical surface models
- National LIDAR Programme — Latest survey data
Toggle layers on/off to see coverage on the map.
3
Select Product Resolution
Expand a category (e.g., “LIDAR Composite Catalogues”) to see available resolutions:
Available Resolutions:
- 1m — Higher detail for precise analysis
- 2m — Broader coverage, smaller file sizes
⚠️ Note: 25cm and 50cm resolution data has been withdrawn from the portal. Only 1m and 2m resolution is currently available.
Check the box next to your desired product to enable it on the map.
LIDAR Composite Catalogues expanded showing 1m and 2m index options
Draw Polygon and Delete Polygon tools for area selection
4
Draw Your Area of Interest
Click the “Download” button, then use the polygon tools to select your area:
- Click “Draw Polygon” to start
- Click on the map to create polygon vertices
- Double-click to complete the polygon
- Use “Delete Polygon” to start over if needed
Alternatively, you can upload a shapefile to define your area using the dropdown selector.
5
Download Your Data
After drawing your polygon, click “Get available tiles” to see what’s available in your area. Select the tiles you want, then download them directly — no account required!
File formats: Point clouds are in LAZ format. DTM/DSM are available as ASCII Grid (.asc) or GeoTIFF (.tif). All data uses British National Grid (OSGB36, EPSG:27700).
File Formats & Technical Details
| Format | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| LAZ | Point Cloud | Compressed LiDAR — ideal for GIS software like QGIS, CloudCompare |
| ASCII Grid (.asc) | Raster | DTM/DSM elevation grids — universal GIS compatibility |
| GeoTIFF (.tif) | Raster | DTM/DSM elevation grids — standard for terrain analysis |
Coordinate System: British National Grid (OSGB36, EPSG:27700) • Vertical Datum: Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN) • Accuracy: ±15cm RMSE vertical, ±40cm horizontal
Pro Tips
🎯 Start with Composite Data
The LIDAR Composite products are merged from multiple surveys and provide the most complete coverage. Use these unless you need time-specific data.
📦 Use LAZ Format
LAZ files are 5-10x smaller than LAS with no data loss. Most modern software supports LAZ directly, including QGIS and CloudCompare.
🗺️ Learn the Grid System
Data uses British National Grid references (e.g., TQ3080). Each tile covers 1km × 1km. Familiarize yourself with OS Grid references for efficient navigation.
📅 Check Survey Dates
Data is collected over time for flood risk management. Time-stamped products include survey dates in the metadata — useful if you need data from a specific period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! All data from the Environment Agency is available free of charge under the Open Government Licence (OGL). You can use the data for personal, commercial, and research purposes. Attribution to the Environment Agency is required.
No account is required. You can browse the map, select tiles, and download data immediately without registration. The portal is designed for quick, hassle-free access to public data.
Currently available resolutions:
- 1m — Most detailed available data
- 2m — Broader coverage with slightly less detail
Important: 25cm and 50cm resolution data has been withdrawn from the portal. For most applications, 1m resolution provides excellent detail for terrain analysis, flood modelling, and planning.
Environment Agency LiDAR has approximately ±15cm RMSE vertical accuracy and ±40cm horizontal accuracy. This makes it suitable for:
- Flood risk assessment and modelling
- Terrain analysis and volumetric calculations
- Urban planning and development
- Archaeological surveys
All Environment Agency data uses the British National Grid coordinate system:
- OSGB36 / British National Grid (EPSG:27700)
- Heights are in metres above Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN)
You can reproject to other coordinate systems using GIS software like QGIS or with Lidarvisor’s processing tools.
Approximately 99% of England is covered by Environment Agency LiDAR data. Coverage has been built up over many years primarily for flood risk management. Some remote or less flood-prone areas may have limited coverage. Use the map interface to check availability for your specific area.
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