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The Google Maps Elevation API lets me pass a URL like

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/elevation/json?locations=39.7391536,-104.984703

along with a developer key, and get a result like

{
   "results" : [
      {
         "elevation" : 1608.637939453125,
         "location" : {
            "lat" : 39.73915360,
            "lng" : -104.98470340
         },
         "resolution" : 4.771975994110107
      }
   ],
   "status" : "OK"
}

My company want to use something like this, but don't have the time for their legal department to go through the license.

Is there something similar with an MIT, Apache, GPL2, or similar license?

Basically, we want to input lat/long and get back elevation.

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  • 1
    Does openstreetmap.org do this? If not, you can download DEM files from usgs.gov but that would require setting up your own db/queries. – barrycarter Sep 27 '16 at 15:06
  • I am new to this, Do you have a URL for those DEMs? – Mawg Sep 27 '16 at 16:14
  • 1
    Start with usgs.gov/products/maps/gis-data but poke around. I know I've found the data I wanted previously, but that was ages ago and they've redesigned the site. Feel free to contact me directly if you'd like. – barrycarter Sep 27 '16 at 16:33
  • Alas, I could only find data for the USA :-( – Mawg Sep 27 '16 at 16:38
  • 1
    earthexplorer.usgs.gov but I agree they do a good job of hiding it. Googling "world dem maps site:.gov" (no quotes) provides other helpful resources. Not sure who downvoted it, but I upvoted to counteract. Is there a "where to find data?" wiki entry somewhere? – barrycarter Oct 7 '16 at 15:13
3

You could try https://elevation-api.io

Disclaimer: I am the developer of the site, but also needed an alternative.

Edit: According to an admin, I'm to include a "long" answer with "context". So here it goes:

ahem... This is an API which returns elevation data, just as Google does, maybe you'll find it as a suitable replacement.

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We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.

  • A nice api, but alas, no ocean depth data, from what I can tell (all elevations come back at 0m for locations at sea). – OrangeWombat Jan 29 at 2:21
  • Yes, unfortunately I haven't included ocean depth data yet, but it is on the todo list. :-) – Miles Jan 29 at 6:59

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