Best Free DEM Data Sources for BlenderGIS in 2026 (SRTM vs ALOS vs Copernicus vs 3DEP)
Digital elevation data is the raw material of every 3D terrain scene. If you have ever opened the BlenderGIS elevation import dialog, noticed it only offers one built-in dataset, and wondered what the alternatives are, this guide compares the main free DEM (digital elevation model) sources you can use in 2026 — and shows exactly how each one gets into Blender.
The short answer
BlenderGIS ships with built-in elevation import through the OpenTopography API, and — as user feedback on the project (domlysz/BlenderGIS issue #1051) points out — that built-in path currently only provides SRTM data. If you want ALOS AW3D30, Copernicus GLO-30, or USGS 3DEP instead, you download the GeoTIFF yourself and import it manually. For a step-by-step on that workflow, see our guide to importing a GeoTIFF into Blender.
Free DEM sources compared
| Dataset | Resolution | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) | 30 m | Global, roughly 56°S to 60°N | Global or regional flythroughs; works out of the box via BlenderGIS’s built-in OpenTopography import |
| ALOS AW3D30 (JAXA) | 30 m | Global | Scenes at high latitudes (above 60°N) where SRTM does not reach |
| Copernicus GLO-30 (ESA) | 30 m | Global | Consistent global coverage with generally cleaner artifacts than SRTM |
| USGS 3DEP | Varies (much finer than 30 m over the US) | United States | US projects where you want the highest available free resolution |
Resolution figures are nominal values published by the data providers; actual detail depends on the tile and terrain.
How to choose: a decision guide
1. Are you working inside the United States?
Use USGS 3DEP. It is the highest-resolution free DEM available for the US and the clear default for American projects.
2. Are you covering the whole globe or multiple continents?
Use SRTM for speed and simplicity — BlenderGIS fetches it directly, no download step needed — or Copernicus GLO-30 if you want a more consistent global mosaic.
3. Is your area above 60°N (northern Canada, Scandinavia, Siberia)?
SRTM stops at 60°N. Use ALOS AW3D30 or Copernicus GLO-30 instead.
4. Does your scene show individual buildings or street-level detail?
You need the finest resolution available for your area (3DEP in the US). A 30 m DEM smooths city blocks into gentle hills — fine for context, wrong for a site study.
Getting non-SRTM data into BlenderGIS
Because the built-in OpenTopography import only serves SRTM, the other datasets need a manual round trip:
- Download the DEM tile for your area from the provider (USGS EarthExplorer for 3DEP, JAXA’s portal for ALOS AW3D30, Copernicus Data Space for GLO-30) as a GeoTIFF.
- Import the GeoTIFF into BlenderGIS via the GIS menu → Import → raster. The full procedure is covered in importing a GeoTIFF into Blender.
- Build your terrain from the imported raster as usual — see creating 3D terrain from a DEM for the mesh and texturing steps.
- If the built-in import complains about credentials, make sure your API key is configured: OpenTopography API key guide.
Learn more about remote sensing and GIS
If this comparison sparked a deeper interest and you want a structured path into remote sensing and GIS concepts (DEM types, projections, raster analysis), an online GIS course can be a good next step after the hands-on tutorials here.
Frequently asked questions
Among the four sources compared here, USGS 3DEP offers the finest resolution, but it covers only the United States. Globally, 30 m datasets (SRTM, ALOS AW3D30, Copernicus GLO-30) are the best you can get for free.
No. As reported in domlysz/BlenderGIS issue #1051, the built-in OpenTopography import currently provides only SRTM. Other datasets must be downloaded manually as GeoTIFFs and imported.
Both are 30 m global DEMs, but they come from different missions and processing chains. Copernicus GLO-30 generally has cleaner artifacts and full polar coverage, while SRTM is older but built directly into BlenderGIS.
No. 3DEP is a US-only program. For other countries, use SRTM, ALOS AW3D30, or Copernicus GLO-30.
The built-in OpenTopography elevation import may require an API key depending on your usage. Our API key guide walks through the setup.
Use the GIS menu → Import → raster to load the GeoTIFF, then build the terrain mesh. The detailed steps are in our GeoTIFF import guide.
For regional landscapes, flythroughs, and context scenes, yes. For city blocks, buildings, or close-up detail, you need finer data such as USGS 3DEP where available.