Wyoming launches statewide Lidar data portal

The Wyoming LiDAR Data Portal has significantly expanded public access to high-resolution elevation and contour data across the Mountain West state of the USA. Launched by the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) at the University of Wyoming (UW), it was unveiled at the Wyoming Geospatial Organization’s spring 2025 conference in Casper, Wyoming.

The new portal marks a significant milestone in the state’s geospatial capabilities. WyGISC, a unit of UW’s School of Computing, developed the platform to serve a broad range of users – from land planners to drone pilots – seeking accurate, terrain-aware data.

The portal is a free public resource designed to democratize access to Lidar-derived digital terrain models and 2-foot (61cm) contour maps. The interface provides users with centralized access to Wyoming-specific datasets, as well as tools for visualization, exploration and download.

“This is a major step forward in public access to high-resolution elevation data for the state of Wyoming,” said Shawn Lanning, a geospatial specialist with WyGISC, who helped develop the portal alongside project leader Jeff Hamerlinck and colleague Shannon Albeke. “With just a few clicks, users can now explore and download elevation and contour data for any area of the state.”

Geological studies and topographic insights

The platform offers statewide terrain models and derivative products created using high-resolution Lidar data. Its intuitive interface is tailored for a wide audience, including landowners assessing development or agriculture projects, researchers and students conducting environmental or geological studies, emergency management teams preparing for or responding to natural disasters, and outdoor enthusiasts and drone operators needing topographic insights. Local and state agencies engaged in infrastructure planning and resource management are also key beneficiaries.

The initiative was funded through a one-time legislative appropriation of USD2 million in 2023, supporting the development of 2-foot contours, underlying terrain models, and the portal infrastructure itself. WyGISC led the project in collaboration with geospatial engineering firm Woolpert.

Phase 2 of the project is already underway. It will involve deeper collaboration with statewide stakeholders to expand datasets and further enhance the portal’s user experience.