CalTopo slope angle data vs topo

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.  In some areas, it would be wonderful to be able to see contours in smaller increments.

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/

Very interesting. Thanks for those links.

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 :)

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

😉

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