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CalTopo slope angle data vs topo


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion CalTopo slope angle data vs topo

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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  • #3754779
    lisa r
    BPL Member

    @lisina10

    Locale: Western OR

    What data is the slope angle layer built from and is it different from the topo data? I used to think slope angle was just a visualization of the information contained in a topo map, but now I’m wondering if in fact slope angle contains higher resolution terrain information from a different source, which would make it another useful, and perhaps better, tool for planning off trail travel routes…

    #3754785
    Matthew / BPL
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    That’s a good point. It does look like higher resolution data and it occurs to me that the shaded relief layers also look like they have a lot more information than 40′ contours represent.

    Perhaps this indicates that the data set itself is finer (at least in places) than what we are used to seeing. Β In some areas, it would be wonderful to be able to see contours in smaller increments.

    #3754820
    PaulW
    BPL Member

    @peweg8

    Locale: Western Colorado

    I had this same question awhile back and support indicated it was based on lidar data. They directed me to this article –

    https://blog.caltopo.com/2019/12/20/high-resolution-elevation-data/

    There is also this – https://blog.caltopo.com/2022/05/27/latest-high-resolution-elevation-data-updates/

    #3754821
    Matthew / BPL
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    Very interesting. Thanks for those links.

    #3754833
    lisa r
    BPL Member

    @lisina10

    Locale: Western OR

    Interesting, thanks for sharing those links. So my takeaway is the answer re the new high rez lidar map is yes they contain new information better than a topo map, and maybe re the older slope angle maps (assuming those are also based on LIDAR, just lower rez). Pretty soon we’ll have so much good data available we won’t even need to step outside :)

    #3754836
    Matthew / BPL
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    Either that or we can hike with AR glasses telling us what the ground in front of us is like.

    πŸ˜‰

    #3755050
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Either that or we can hike with AR glasses telling us what the ground in front of us is like.
    Sounds like a good idea – until a bear turns up, or a tree falls on the track?

    Cheers
    PS: reply in same theme as MK

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