Opening DEM Files

The DEM file type is primarily associated with ArcGIS.

DEM	File extension: DEM
	File type:	digital elevation model

What is a DEM file?

DEM files mostly belong to ArcGIS by ESRI. A DEM file is a demo used by video games like Half-Life, Quake, Rainbow Six: Raven Shield, and Unreal Tournament. Such demos are not saved in the same format and they usually contain one mission which gives the player an overview of a game. DEM is also the filename extension of an in-game recording created by Rainbow Six: Raven Shield video game. Another type of DEM file is a digital elevation model used to represent 3D terrains and survey data in programs such as ArcGIS, iGO, Bryce, and Civil 3D. Delphi IDE saves an edit mask in a DEM file.

How to open DEM files

You need a suitable software like ArcGIS to open a DEM file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your DEM file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a DEM file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online DEM Text Viewer

Choose your .dem file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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Programs that open and convert DEM files:

ArcGIS by ESRI
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. DEM files are often referred to as ArcGIS gis because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Bryce (digital elevation model) by DAZ
Bryce is a 3D animation and modeling software with tools for creating and rendering photorealistic 3D environments. A digital elevation model created with Bryce is saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Game.
Civil 3D (survey data) by Autodesk
Civil 3D is a computer-aided infrastructure design and documentation program with building information modelling support. A DEM file created by Civil 3D contains land survey data. This file format is classified as GIS.
Creator Simulator (temporary data) by Tufts University
Creator Simulator is a discontinued signal processing and algorithm simulation tool with image enhancement features. It saves temporary data in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Data.
Delphi (edit mask) by Embarcadero
Delphi is an integrated development environment for building native cross-platform applications. It uses a DEM file to save an edit mask. This file format is classified as Data.
Demetra (automated project) by European Commission (Eurostat)
Demetra is a discontinued time series statistical analysis software package. It uses an automated project saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Data.
Descent (demo) by Volition
Descent is a discontinued single-/multi-player first-person shooter video game. It uses demos saved in DEM files. This file format is classified as Game.
Dota 2 (demo) by Valve
Dota 2 is an action-adventure real-time strategy video game for mobile and desktop platforms. Demos used by Dota 2 is saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Game.
Half-Life (demo) by Valve
Half-Life is a first-person shooter and puzzle video game series available for PCs and game consoles. A demo mission in this game is saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Game.
iGO (digital elevation model) by NNG
iGO is a navigation application for iOS and Android operating system. A digital elevation model used by iGO is saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as GIS.
Quake (demo) by Bethesda
Quake is a first-person shooter video game series available for desktop, mobile, and console platforms. It uses a demo saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Game.
Rainbow Six: Raven Shield (in-game recording) by Ubisoft
Rainbow Six: Raven Shield is an action-adventure tactical shooter video game series. An in-game recording created by this game is saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Game.
Turing (data) by Holt
Turing is a command line programming environment and a programming language for teaching computer science concepts. It saves data in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Data.
Unreal Tournament (demo) by Epic Games
Unreal Tournament is an arena shooter video game for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. A demo created by the demorec function in this game is saved in a DEM file. This file format is classified as Game.
Vista Pro (digital elevation model) by Hypercube and Monkey Byte
Vista Pro is a discontinued graphics editor that uses real world geographical information to generate landscapes, geographical images, and flythrough animation. A DEM file created by Vista Pro contains a digital elevation model. This file format is classified as GIS.

DEM file format details:

To view or edit DEM files you need to know the file format, because it determines how the data in this file is stored. A file format is determined by the file extension and signature, so JPEG images have the extension .jpg and the first bytes in the file are ÿØÿ. However, different programs can use the same file extension, and file extensions can be assigned incorrectly. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Our examination of the DEM files comes to the following conclusion:

DEM is one of the most common file extensions and is mainly used by one program with a specific format. The two most common formats are as follows:

65% of all DEM files are Half-Life 2 Demo files. The contents of these files cannot be read by a human; only a computer program can interpret the data. The files are 3 MB to 140 MB in size, with a median of 76 MB. The file type is very recent. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. HL2DEMO. Such files are related to match, demo, dust, mirage, inferno, game, only, video and auto.
15% of all DEM files start with the magic bytes PBDEMS2, which are always the first bytes of this file format. These are binary files, so they do not contain words or text. DEM files are between 26 MB and 78 MB in size. The keywords PBDEMS2, SourceTV Demo*, dota8, srcds, start2, Sinagpore Server, Valve Dota 2 Sinagpore Server and /Valve Dota are typical for these files. Files like these are sometimes connected to start.

All the rest of the DEM files (20%) have different formats, the following 7 formats exist: iGO Digital Elevation Map, Build engine Demo/replay data, Autodesk and RUST. Often described as girlshare, popflash, public, server, lidar, asia, fema or free. Just click the "Choose your .dem file to analyze" button on this page to find out what your DEM file is.

Technical Data for DEM File Extension

File classification:

GIS

Related files:

bz2, demo, gz, tif, edem, zip, xam, dme, info, crs, wad, dmf, video, ico, partial, xml, exe, rar, url, json, prj, ecw, stn

Mime type:

application/octet-stream

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\bmaer@aol.com\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\cidreck\half-life 2

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\jeancyr\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\games\halflife2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\half-life2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\valve\hl2\steamapps\ch_adami\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: e:\gry\half life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\mithrandil_gandalf\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: e:\installerade spel\half life 2\steamapps\honken301\half-life 2 demo\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\haxwub\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: g:\halflife2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\games\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\mkudla\half-life 2 demo\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\d1rtyharry\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\games\steam\steamapps\dferstat\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Turing.dem
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Turing\Turing.exe -nowindow

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\imalluwantbaby@hotmail.com\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\manafo\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\jboucher@pps.co.za\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: skplayer
EXEFile: C:\Documents and Settings\Road Spatula\Desktop\skplayer.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\games\valve\steam\steamapps\user\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\games\steam\steamapps\diamondrmb\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\games\valve\steam\steamapps\pink_panther007\lostcoast\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\dark_gertrude\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\user\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\mr_lie88\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\fifelifes\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\snapy06\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\cermie\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\xbulletsx\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\yupa42\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\rsnyper\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\yurivdhoeven\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\dave_182\half-life 2 demo\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\games\valve\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\barry.geal@ntlworld.com\lostcoast\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\kuma games\kuma.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\paulhalf\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\liquid_snake_eater54\half-life 2\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\speedy01\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\kancerus\half-life 2\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\jopsuk\the ship\ship.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\counter-strike source\srcds.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ubisoft\dark messiah of might and magic demo\mm.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\kamekazelord\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ubisoft\dark messiah of might and magic\mm.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\half life 2\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\robosnail\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\incognegrob\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\chadalmgty\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\spieslikeus\day of defeat source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: DEM_scilab_file
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\scilab-4.1.1\bin\wscilex.exe -O

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\lunatic144\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

Show all 55 listings To Top

a dem digital elevation model is a special file format by ESRI and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with DEM files

Associate the DEM file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open digital elevation models. Because only the current version supports the latest DEM file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the ESRI manufacturer website after an available ArcGIS update.
To make sure that your DEM file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .DEM file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.