Look up elevation worldwide, profile route ascent/descent, grid areas, check terrain line of sight.
Maintain this server? Claim it
Call this server's tools from your browser. Nothing to install.
Requests go through mcptry because browsers can't call most MCP servers directly. Header values are sent to the server for that request only and are never stored or logged.
Tool list from our last check. Connect live to refresh it.
Check whether terrain blocks the straight sightline between an observer and a target, each at a height above the ground, accounting for earth curvature and atmospheric refraction. Returns a verdict of clear, blocked, or indeterminate (when samples along the line have no data), the minimum clearance and the terrain point that limits it, and the first obstruction from the observer when blocked. With frequency_mhz, it also reports first Fresnel zone clearance against the 60% free-space bar. Where Mapzen reports sea-floor depth over open water, clearance is measured to the sea surface; USGS 3DEP values below 0 m (bay floor in some bays, or dry land) count as received unless water_surface_m sets a water level. Models terrain only: buildings and vegetation are not modeled beyond what the elevation source itself captures, and a ridge narrower than the reported sample spacing can be missed. To see the terrain between the points, call elevation_get_profile on the same two points.
Target location as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84).
Observer location as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84).
Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep.
Evenly spaced terrain samples along the line, endpoints included (3–250, default 100). Spacing is reported; a ridge narrower than it can be missed.
Earth model: flat ignores curvature; geometric applies curvature without refraction; optical applies standard visible-light refraction (coefficient 0.13, default); radio applies the standard 4/3-earth radio refraction (coefficient 0.25).
Radio frequency in MHz (30–300,000; 5800 for 5.8 GHz). When set, the result adds first Fresnel zone clearance against the 60% free-space bar; pair it with earth_model radio.
Target height above ground, meters (default 0, the ground itself). Set it for a tower, building top, or second antenna.
Water level in meters (-500 to 9,000). When set, each sample's surface, endpoints included, is the higher of its elevation and this level, replacing the default that lifts only Mapzen sea-floor values to 0 m. Requires a vertical reference compatible with the sampled terrain; choosing zero or source opentopodata alone does not establish compatibility. No datum conversion is performed.
Observer eye or antenna height above ground, meters (default 1.7, standing eye height).
Check whether terrain blocks the straight sightline between an observer and a target, each at a height above the ground, accounting for earth curvature and atmospheric refraction. Returns a verdict of clear, blocked, or indeterminate (when samples along the line have no data), the minimum clearance and the terrain point that limits it, and the first obstruction from the observer when blocked. With frequency_mhz, it also reports first Fresnel zone clearance against the 60% free-space bar. Where Mapzen reports sea-floor depth over open water, clearance is measured to the sea surface; USGS 3DEP values below 0 m (bay floor in some bays, or dry land) count as received unless water_surface_m sets a water level. Models terrain only: buildings and vegetation are not modeled beyond what the elevation source itself captures, and a ridge narrower than the reported sample spacing can be missed. To see the terrain between the points, call elevation_get_profile on the same two points.
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| source | string | Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep. |
| target* | object | Target location as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84). |
| samples | integer | Evenly spaced terrain samples along the line, endpoints included (3–250, default 100). Spacing is reported; a ridge narrower than it can be missed. |
| observer* | object | Observer location as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84). |
| earth_model | string | Earth model: flat ignores curvature; geometric applies curvature without refraction; optical applies standard visible-light refraction (coefficient 0.13, default); radio applies the standard 4/3-earth radio refraction (coefficient 0.25). |
| frequency_mhz | number | Radio frequency in MHz (30–300,000; 5800 for 5.8 GHz). When set, the result adds first Fresnel zone clearance against the 60% free-space bar; pair it with earth_model radio. |
| target_height_m | number | Target height above ground, meters (default 0, the ground itself). Set it for a tower, building top, or second antenna. |
| water_surface_m | number | Water level in meters (-500 to 9,000). When set, each sample's surface, endpoints included, is the higher of its elevation and this level, replacing the default that lifts only Mapzen sea-floor values to 0 m. Requires a vertical reference compatible with the sampled terrain; choosing zero or source opentopodata alone does not establish compatibility. No datum conversion is performed. |
| observer_height_m | number | Observer eye or antenna height above ground, meters (default 1.7, standing eye height). |
{
"type": "object",
"$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
"required": [
"observer",
"target"
],
"properties": {
"source": {
"enum": [
"auto",
"usgs_3dep",
"opentopodata"
],
"type": "string",
"default": "auto",
"description": "Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep."
},
"target": {
"type": "object",
"required": [
"lat",
"lon"
],
"properties": {
"lat": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 90,
"minimum": -90,
"description": "Latitude in decimal degrees (WGS84), -90 to 90."
},
"lon": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 180,
"minimum": -180,
"description": "Longitude in decimal degrees (WGS84), -180 to 180."
}
},
"description": "Target location as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84)."
},
"samples": {
"type": "integer",
"default": 100,
"maximum": 250,
"minimum": 3,
"description": "Evenly spaced terrain samples along the line, endpoints included (3–250, default 100). Spacing is reported; a ridge narrower than it can be missed."
},
"observer": {
"type": "object",
"required": [
"lat",
"lon"
],
"properties": {
"lat": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 90,
"minimum": -90,
"description": "Latitude in decimal degrees (WGS84), -90 to 90."
},
"lon": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 180,
"minimum": -180,
"description": "Longitude in decimal degrees (WGS84), -180 to 180."
}
},
"description": "Observer location as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84)."
},
"earth_model": {
"enum": [
"flat",
"geometric",
"optical",
"radio"
],
"type": "string",
"default": "optical",
"description": "Earth model: flat ignores curvature; geometric applies curvature without refraction; optical applies standard visible-light refraction (coefficient 0.13, default); radio applies the standard 4/3-earth radio refraction (coefficient 0.25)."
},
"frequency_mhz": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 300000,
"minimum": 30,
"description": "Radio frequency in MHz (30–300,000; 5800 for 5.8 GHz). When set, the result adds first Fresnel zone clearance against the 60% free-space bar; pair it with earth_model radio."
},
"target_height_m": {
"type": "number",
"default": 0,
"maximum": 10000,
"minimum": 0,
"description": "Target height above ground, meters (default 0, the ground itself). Set it for a tower, building top, or second antenna."
},
"water_surface_m": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 9000,
"minimum": -500,
"description": "Water level in meters (-500 to 9,000). When set, each sample's surface, endpoints included, is the higher of its elevation and this level, replacing the default that lifts only Mapzen sea-floor values to 0 m. Requires a vertical reference compatible with the sampled terrain; choosing zero or source opentopodata alone does not establish compatibility. No datum conversion is performed."
},
"observer_height_m": {
"type": "number",
"default": 1.7,
"maximum": 10000,
"minimum": 0,
"description": "Observer eye or antenna height above ground, meters (default 1.7, standing eye height)."
}
},
"additionalProperties": false
}Sample a regular grid of terrain elevations across a bounding box and report the highest and lowest sampled points, the mean elevation, and the relief, plus the full elevation matrix with each cell's dataset. Values are point samples at grid nodes (box edges included), not cell averages, so a summit between nodes is missed; to refine a candidate high or low point, call again with a smaller box around it. Over open water, Mapzen cells are sea-floor depths. Rows times columns may not exceed 250.
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| cols | integer | Grid columns, west to east, edges included (2–25, default 10). rows × cols must be at most 250. |
| east* | number | Eastern edge longitude, decimal degrees. |
| rows | integer | Grid rows, north to south, edges included (2–25, default 10). rows × cols must be at most 250. |
| west* | number | Western edge longitude, decimal degrees. Must be less than east; a box crossing longitude 180 must be split into two calls. |
| north* | number | Northern edge latitude, decimal degrees. Must be greater than south. |
| south* | number | Southern edge latitude, decimal degrees. |
Look up ground elevation at up to 100 coordinates in one call, in meters and feet, with the dataset and resolution behind every point. Accepts up to 1,000 submitted positions; only the first 100 are validated and sampled, with counts and next_offset identifying the unvalidated remainder. Continue with originalPoints.slice(next_offset). Inside USGS 3DEP coverage (the US and its territories, plus much of Canada and Mexico) values come from 3DEP at 1–30 m resolution. Elsewhere they come from Open Topo Data: SRTM at about 30 m on land between 60°N and 56°S, and Mapzen terrain tiles beyond SRTM's coverage and over the ocean, where values below 0 m are sea-floor depths. A point with no data in any queried dataset returns status no_data instead of failing the call.
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| points* | array | 1–1,000 submitted positions as {lat, lon} objects in decimal degrees (WGS84), or one point object. Only the first 100 are validated and sampled; an invalid unserved tail is validated when resubmitted. Coordinate aliases latitude, longitude, lng, and long are accepted. |
| source | string | Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep. |
{
"type": "object",
"$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
"required": [
"points"
],
"properties": {
"points": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"description": "A {lat, lon} point: latitude -90 to 90, longitude -180 to 180 (WGS84). The first 100 positions are validated; the unserved tail is unvalidated. latitude, longitude, lng, and long aliases are accepted."
},
"maxItems": 1000,
"minItems": 1,
"description": "1–1,000 submitted positions as {lat, lon} objects in decimal degrees (WGS84), or one point object. Only the first 100 are validated and sampled; an invalid unserved tail is validated when resubmitted. Coordinate aliases latitude, longitude, lng, and long are accepted."
},
"source": {
"enum": [
"auto",
"usgs_3dep",
"opentopodata"
],
"type": "string",
"default": "auto",
"description": "Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep."
}
},
"additionalProperties": false
}Sample terrain elevation at evenly spaced points along a route (a polyline of 2–1,000 vertices) and summarize it. Returns total distance, cumulative ascent and descent, start, end, minimum, and maximum elevation, and the steepest climb and descent grades, plus the per-sample profile with each sample's dataset unless include_samples is false. Ascent and descent are summed between samples, so they depend on the sample spacing reported in the result: denser sampling captures more small climbs, down to the source's resolution. Over open water, Mapzen samples are sea-floor depths. Each USGS 3DEP sample is a separate upstream request, so up to 250 samples take roughly 10–30 seconds.
| Argument | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| path* | array | Route vertices in travel order, 2–1,000 {lat, lon} objects in decimal degrees (WGS84). Consecutive duplicate vertices are ignored. Antipodal retained segments require an intermediate waypoint, even with endpoint-only sampling; errors identify zero-based submitted vertex indices. |
| source | string | Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep. |
| samples | integer | Number of evenly spaced samples along the route, endpoints included (2–250, default 100). More samples catch more relief and take longer; spacing finer than the source resolution adds no detail. For a large count where only the summary matters, set include_samples to false. |
| source |
| string |
| Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep. |
{
"type": "object",
"$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
"required": [
"south",
"west",
"north",
"east"
],
"properties": {
"cols": {
"type": "integer",
"default": 10,
"maximum": 25,
"minimum": 2,
"description": "Grid columns, west to east, edges included (2–25, default 10). rows × cols must be at most 250."
},
"east": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 180,
"minimum": -180,
"description": "Eastern edge longitude, decimal degrees."
},
"rows": {
"type": "integer",
"default": 10,
"maximum": 25,
"minimum": 2,
"description": "Grid rows, north to south, edges included (2–25, default 10). rows × cols must be at most 250."
},
"west": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 180,
"minimum": -180,
"description": "Western edge longitude, decimal degrees. Must be less than east; a box crossing longitude 180 must be split into two calls."
},
"north": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 90,
"minimum": -90,
"description": "Northern edge latitude, decimal degrees. Must be greater than south."
},
"south": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 90,
"minimum": -90,
"description": "Southern edge latitude, decimal degrees."
},
"source": {
"enum": [
"auto",
"usgs_3dep",
"opentopodata"
],
"type": "string",
"default": "auto",
"description": "Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep."
}
},
"additionalProperties": false
}| include_samples | boolean | Return the per-sample profile (default true). false omits samples and the sample table; the summary, spacing, coverage counts, datasets, notices, and attribution are unchanged, still computed from every sample. |
{
"type": "object",
"$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
"required": [
"path"
],
"properties": {
"path": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"required": [
"lat",
"lon"
],
"properties": {
"lat": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 90,
"minimum": -90,
"description": "Latitude in decimal degrees (WGS84), -90 to 90."
},
"lon": {
"type": "number",
"maximum": 180,
"minimum": -180,
"description": "Longitude in decimal degrees (WGS84), -180 to 180."
}
},
"description": "A point as {lat, lon} in decimal degrees (WGS84)."
},
"maxItems": 1000,
"minItems": 2,
"description": "Route vertices in travel order, 2–1,000 {lat, lon} objects in decimal degrees (WGS84). Consecutive duplicate vertices are ignored. Antipodal retained segments require an intermediate waypoint, even with endpoint-only sampling; errors identify zero-based submitted vertex indices."
},
"source": {
"enum": [
"auto",
"usgs_3dep",
"opentopodata"
],
"type": "string",
"default": "auto",
"description": "Elevation source: auto (default) uses USGS 3DEP where it has data and Open Topo Data (SRTM, with Mapzen terrain tiles where SRTM has no data) for the rest; usgs_3dep uses 3DEP only; opentopodata uses Open Topo Data only. Case is ignored and spaces or hyphens read as underscores, so USGS-3DEP and open topo data are accepted; 3dep, usgs, and epqs are also aliases for usgs_3dep."
},
"samples": {
"type": "integer",
"default": 100,
"maximum": 250,
"minimum": 2,
"description": "Number of evenly spaced samples along the route, endpoints included (2–250, default 100). More samples catch more relief and take longer; spacing finer than the source resolution adds no detail. For a large count where only the summary matters, set include_samples to false."
},
"include_samples": {
"type": "boolean",
"default": true,
"description": "Return the per-sample profile (default true). false omits samples and the sample table; the summary, spacing, coverage counts, datasets, notices, and attribution are unchanged, still computed from every sample."
}
},
"additionalProperties": false
}