A National LIDAR Dataset refers to a high-resolution LIDAR

LIDAR

LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...

 dataset comprising most – and ideally all - of a nation’s terrain. Datasets of this type typically meet specified quality standards and are publicly available for free (or at nominal cost) in one or more uniform formats from government or academic sources. National LiDAR datasets are used primarily in LIDAR Contour Mapping, and also for forestry, urban and rural planning, recreational, environmental, engineering, and geological studies and planning, among others.

Countries with National LIDAR Datasets either completed or in progress include, in alphabetical order:

Country	Dataset Status	Resolution (pts/m2)	Source	Additional Information
Denmark	Completed, 2008	0.39	http://www.sharpgis.net/post/2008/10/24/First-country-to-be-fully-mapped-in-3D.aspx	Pointspacing is 1.6m
Finland	In progress	n/a	http://www.gisdevelopment.net/news/viewn.asp?id=GIS:N_cngjtpfzlx
Poland	In progress	from 4 to 12	http://www.gugik.gov.pl/projekty/isok	IT project for protecting the country against extraordinary threats
Spain	In progress	0.5	http://www.ign.es/PNOA/index.html	It is part of national orthophoto project
Sweden	In progress	n/a	http://www.lantmateriet.se/templates/LMV_Page.aspx?id=15779
Switzerland	Completed	1	http://www.swisstopo.admin.ch/internet/swisstopo/en/home/products/height/dom_dtm-av.html
USA	In discussion	n/a	http://www.asprs.org/publications/pers/2008journal/september/highlight.pdf	National LIDAR Dataset - USA

See also

• Digital Elevation Model
  Digital elevation model
  A digital elevation model is a digital model or 3-D representation of a terrain's surface — commonly for a planet , moon, or asteroid — created from terrain elevation data....
  
  
• National Elevation Dataset
  National Elevation Dataset
  The National Elevation Dataset consists of high precision ground surface elevation data for the United States. It is maintained by the USGS and all the data are in public domain-Source:...
  
  
• Remote Sensing
  Remote sensing
  Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
  
  
• Topography
  Topography
  Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...