Oregon Elevation ToolsOpen the map →

3D print any piece of Oregon terrain, for makers and teachers

To 3D print Oregon terrain, draw the area on the map, from a single butte to a stretch of the Cascades or the coast, and export it as an STL or OBJ mesh built from the USGS 3DEP lidar elevation model, watertight so it prints as a solid.

Teachers use the same tools to show contour lines, slope and watersheds on real Oregon landscapes, and to export contours as SVG for a laser cutter.

The workflow

  1. Step 1 · Download Data

    Export a printable model

    A watertight STL for printing or an OBJ for rendering, at 3× vertical scale or true scale.

    Open Download Data →How it works

  2. Step 2 · Contour Lines

    Contours for layers or lessons

    Contour lines on the map, and as SVG or PDF for a laser cutter or a handout.

    Open Contour Lines →How it works

  3. Step 3 · Elevation Profile

    A cross-section

    The profile of the ground along any line, for a lesson on slope and relief.

    Open Elevation Profile →How it works

  4. Step 4 · Water & Drainage

    Show where water goes

    Drainage channels and ponding, drawn on real terrain.

    Open Water & Drainage →How it works

Free to run · pay to download

See the full result on the map free, with no account. Download STL and OBJ meshes, and contours as SVG, PDF, DXF or GeoJSON with a pass: US$29 for 24 hours, US$99 for 30 days or US$399 for 12 months, a one-off payment in US dollars that never renews. Every download on the site is included while the pass lasts.

Start on the map →Pass prices and what’s included

What it doesn’t replace

  • Large areas are resampled to keep the files a usable size, so a whole mountain range prints with less detail than a single hill.
  • Meshes are the bare ground. Trees and buildings are not included.

Questions

Can I use the models in class or sell prints?

USGS 3DEP data is in the public domain, so the files are yours to use, including commercially. Crediting “USGS 3D Elevation Program” is good practice.

Can I exaggerate the relief?

Yes. Download Data offers a 3× vertical scale, which prints well for most landscapes, or true 1× scale where heights match the real terrain.

Can several people use one pass?

A pass lives in the browser it was bought in, with no account. Anyone can run the tools for free; downloads work in the browser that holds the pass.

Guides

Data

Everything runs on the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) bare-earth elevation model: lidar at 3.3 ft per pixel where it has been flown, and the 1/3 arc-second model, about 33 ft per pixel, elsewhere. Every result says how much of the area came from that coarser model.

USGS 3DEP elevation data and USGS maps are U.S. Government works in the public domain: you may use the results, including commercially. A credit to the USGS 3D Elevation Program is appreciated, and every file you download carries it. DOGAMI lidar products are published by the State of Oregon; credit "DOGAMI / Oregon Lidar Consortium". County taxlot boundaries are the assessor's GIS data, not surveys, and each county publishes its own disclaimer, shown with the parcel. The aerial basemap is from Esri and follows Esri's terms; it is not included in downloads.