---
title: "Elevation and sampled terrain profile (USGS EPQS / 3DEP)"
method: POST
path: "/api/locus_terrain_profile"
tags: ["terrain", "elevation", "slope", "usgs", "3dep", "site-feasibility", "read-only", "free", "free"]
---

# Elevation and sampled terrain profile (USGS EPQS / 3DEP)

`POST /api/locus_terrain_profile`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.locus.report`
- URL: `https://api.locus.report/api/locus_terrain_profile`
- Auth: none required

Returns USGS EPQS transects plus NC or USGS 3DEP elevation, slope, and aspect where available, for agents checking terrain at an address. Each raster estimate carries its source and vintage; missing data stays unavailable. Not a survey, drainage analysis, or engineering conclusion. National. Direct flat-body route for this one free resource; no API key, payment, or catalog wrapper. Return only the cited bounded evidence described here; this route never produces a paid brief or full report.

## Request body

- object
  - `address` string: US street address. Provide this or latitude+longitude.
  - `latitude` number: Decimal latitude; provide with longitude.
  - `longitude` number: Decimal longitude; provide with latitude.
  - `transectMeters` integer: Distance from the point to each cardinal terrain sample; defaults to 100 meters.

## Response `200`

Free cited evidence response.

- object

## Other responses

- `400`: Invalid request body.
- `429`: Rate limited.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/locus/apis/locus-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/locus/apis/locus-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/locus/apis/locus-api/revisions/ba7786b74adb?raw)