Open Topo Data

Open Topo Data is a REST API server for your elevation data.

curl http://localhost:5000/v1/test-dataset?locations=56,123

{
    "results": [{
        "elevation": 815.0,
        "location": {
            "lat": 56.0,
            "lng": 123.0
        },
        "dataset": "test-dataset"
    }],
    "status": "OK"
}

You can self-host with your own dataset or use the free public API which is configured with a number of open elevation datasets. The API is largely compatible with the Google Maps Elevation API.

Documentation: www.opentopodata.org

Installation

Install docker and git then run:

git clone https://github.com/ajnisbet/opentopodata.git
cd opentopodata
make build
make run

This will start an Open Topo Data server on http://localhost:5000/. Some extra steps might be needed for Windows and M1/Apple Silicon.

Open Topo Data supports a wide range of raster file formats and tiling schemes, including most of those used by popular open elevation datasets. See the server docs for more about configuration and adding datasets.

Usage

Open Topo Data has a single endpoint: a point query endpoint that returns the elevation at a single point or a series of points.

curl http://localhost:5000/v1/test-dataset?locations=56,123

{
    "results": [{
        "elevation": 815.0,
        "location": {
            "lat": 56.0,
            "lng": 123.0
        },
        "dataset": "test-dataset"
    }],
    "status": "OK"
}

The interpolation algorithm used can be configured as a request parameter, and locations can also be provided in Google Polyline format.

See the API docs for more about request and response formats.

Public API

I'm hosting a free public API at api.opentopodata.org.

curl https://api.opentopodata.org/v1/srtm30m?locations=57.688709,11.976404

{
  "results": [
    {
      "elevation": 55.0,
      "location": {
        "lat": 57.688709,
        "lng": 11.976404
      },
      "dataset": "srtm30m"
    }
  ],
  "status": "OK"
}

The following datasets are available on the public API:

• ASTER
• ETOPO1
• EU-DEM
• Mapzen
• NED 10m
• NZ DEM
• SRTM (30m or 90m)
• EMOD Bathymetry
• GEBCO Bathymetry
• BKG (200m)

License

MIT

Support

Want help getting Open Topo Data running? Send me an email at [email protected].

Paid hosting

If you'd like me to host and manage an elevation API for your business, email me at [email protected] or check out my sister project GPXZ.