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Several sources contribute to the creation and maintenance of digital topographic data, including government agencies, private companies, and academic institutions. Common sources include but not limited to:
National Mapping Agencies: Government organizations responsible for cartography and topographic mapping provide authoritative and standardized data for their respective countries.
Remote Sensing: Satellite imagery, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and aerial photography are used to collect high-resolution topographic information.
Open Data Initiatives: Many governments and organizations make topographic data freely available to the public through open data portals.
Crowdsourced Data: Citizen scientists and volunteers contribute to topographic data by collecting field observations and using GPS-enabled devices.
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