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| ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model | |
|---|---|
| Name | ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model |
| Type | Digital elevation model |
| Operator | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; United States Geological Survey |
| Status | Active |
ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model
The ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model is a spaceborne elevation dataset derived from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer on board Terra (satellite), produced through collaboration between Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with distribution by United States Geological Survey. The product supports global topographic mapping, cryospheric research, and hazard assessment and is integrated into workflows used by European Space Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and academic institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Cambridge. From launch to ongoing reprocessings the dataset has been cited in studies by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and international consortia including Global Land Cover Facility.
The dataset originates from stereoscopic optical observations by ASTER on Terra (satellite), enabling near-global coverage between roughly 83°N and 83°S; production was led by METI (Japan) and NASA, with operational roles by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and distribution via United States Geological Survey. ASTER-derived elevation grids are widely referenced in literature from institutions such as Columbia University, Stanford University, and ETH Zurich for analyses of orography, glaciology, and geomorphology. Peer-reviewed comparisons involve journals like Science (journal), Nature (journal), and Journal of Geophysical Research and reference datasets from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and Copernicus Programme resources.
ASTER DEM data are produced from along-track stereo-pair imagery using the ASTER Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR) nadir and backward-looking telescopes on Terra (satellite). Typical product tiles are provided at 1 arc-second and 30-meter gridded resolution following multilook aggregation, ortho-rectification, and radiometric corrections applied by processing chains maintained by Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Processing steps reference geodetic datums including WGS 84 and utilize digital photogrammetry, image correlation algorithms developed in collaboration with laboratories at California Institute of Technology and University of Maryland. Ancillary inputs often include sensor ephemeris from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ground control points from national mapping agencies such as Ordnance Survey (Great Britain) and the United States Geological Survey, and cloud screening informed by methods used at NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Validation studies compare ASTER DEM to reference datasets like Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, airborne LiDAR surveys by National Ecological Observatory Network, and in situ geodetic benchmarks maintained by national agencies including Geoscience Australia and Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain). Reported vertical accuracies vary by terrain: lower-error plains and agricultural zones versus higher-error glaciated, forested, and urban canopies; factors include stereo-correlation failures, cloud cover, and sensor geometry noted by research groups at University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of Bern. Limitations cited in literature from USGS Publications Warehouse and American Geophysical Union conferences include data voids in persistent cloud regions, seasonal surface changes over Greenland, Antarctica, and landcover-induced bias over Amazon Basin and tropical islands cataloged by Smithsonian Institution studies.
Major releases include the original ASTER Global DEM (GDEM) versions and subsequent reprocessed editions with gap-filling and noise-reduction algorithms informed by collaborations involving METI (Japan), NASA, and regional mapping agencies. Reprocessings are documented alongside comparative evaluations by European Geosciences Union and updates produced with pipeline improvements similar to those applied in Copernicus DEM efforts. Release notes and version identifiers are referenced in datasets distributed through USGS EarthExplorer and archives curated by National Snow and Ice Data Center.
ASTER DEM products underpin applications across hazard assessment by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, hydrological modeling in studies by International Hydrological Programme, glacier mass-balance research used by World Glacier Monitoring Service, landslide susceptibility mapping in case studies from Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, and topographic correction for multispectral analyses in projects at National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Users include academic institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, international agencies like United Nations Environment Programme, and private sector firms providing geospatial services to Petroleum Development Oman and infrastructure planning groups.
ASTER DEM distribution is managed through portals including USGS EarthExplorer, LP DAAC, and national mirror sites operated by agencies like Geoscience Australia; access models have evolved from restricted to open dissemination consistent with policies by NASA and USGS. Licensing follows terms established by contributing agencies; many products are provided free for scientific and commercial use but subject to attribution and acceptable use policies referenced by METI (Japan) and United States Geological Survey.
Comparative analyses contrast ASTER DEM with radar-derived products such as Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and newer optical and LiDAR-derived elevations like Copernicus DEM and airborne datasets produced by USGS 3DEP. Trade-offs include spatial resolution, vertical accuracy, global coverage extent, and susceptibility to vegetation and snow cover; these differences are detailed in comparative studies published by American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and multinational assessment reports by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Category:Digital elevation models