swissSURFACE3D Raster
swissSURFACE3D Raster is a digital surface model (DSM) which represents the earth’s surface including visible and permanent landscape elements such as soil, natural cover, and all sorts of constructive work with the exception of power lines and masts.

The digital surface model of Switzerland
swissSURFACE3D Raster is derived from airborne LiDAR data of swissSURFACE3D. To model the surface, the following elements (classified LiDAR points) are used:
- soil (class 2)
- vegetation (class 3)
- buildings (class 6)
- bridges / footbridges / viaducts (class 17)
- water (class 9)
To improve the surface representation of large rivers and lakes, watercourse vectors of the topographic landscape model TLM are implemented.
Applications
- Runoff and mass movement models under consideration of vegetation and buildings
- Production of (True)-Orthophotos
- Modelling of the solar energy potential for roofs
- Rendering of 3D-visualisations
- Line-of-sight calculations
- Biomass modelling for forestry
- Canopy height models with swissALTI3D as terrain model
- Disaster analysis (e.g. rock fall or debris flow events)
Terms of use
Additional information
Technical details
Structure: The data is structured as a grid with a mesh size of 0.5m and delivered in tiles (tile size = 1 km2).
Format and file sizes
- Cloud Optimized Geotiff (COG), LZW compression
- ~ 16 MB / tile, 335 GB / half of Switzerland
- ASCII X,Y,Z single spaced
- ~ 60 MB / tile, 2.6 TB / half of Switzerland
- ESRI ASCII GRID (on request)
Coordinate system: LV95 - LN02

Documents
Almost every publication concerning swissSURFACE3D Raster is available only in German and French. Please select your preferred language in the navigation bar, to view the desired document
Sample data
The sample data show their type and format. They are free of charge and may be used for test purposes only. It is not permitted to include them in a product.
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern
- Tel.
- +41 58 469 01 11