Version 3 (modified by adbe, 12 years ago) (diff)

--

DEM scripts

This page details and explains the use of the DEM creation scripts:

lidardem.sh
asterdem.sh
nextmapdem.sh
lidar_aster_dem.sh

The scripts listed are written in bash.

These scripts are used to create a DEM from LiDAR and elevation model tiles. The scripts use grass GIS to read in the elevation tiles and perform patching and various other operations on the data to create a DEM. GRASS is a GIS (Geograohic Information System) and details of it can be found at: http://grass.fbk.eu/. There is a detailed api and usage guide, it is available for free download at: http://grass.fbk.eu/download/index.php.

Creating a DEM from ASTER data using asterdem.sh script

ASTER tiles

ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) is a sensor on the Terra satellite, ASTER is partly being used to obtain elevation maps. The ASTER tiles are 1 degree x 1 degree lat/lon. The ASTER version 1 have an approximate resolution of 30 metres, version 2 however has an approximate resolution of 15 metres.
15 metre resolution (left), 30 metre resolution (right)
aster_15_m.jpg aster_30_m.jpg

ASTER tiles are in wgs84 lat/lon projection.

Downloading Tiles

The tiles can be downloaded from either of:

  • http://reverb.echo.nasa.gov/reverb/
    • Create an account or log in
    • Tiles are downloaded by putting on an ftp site, the time period for this depends on the number of tiles, the fewer the faster
    • The best method to select tiles is by a bounding box, drag the box over the desired region
    • Type ASTER into the "Search Terms"
    • Select "ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V002" in the "Select Datasets"
    • Then click "Search for Granules"
    • Click accept on the Data quality summary
    • Add all items to the cart
    • Click view items in cart
    • Click Order at the bottom of the page
    • An order items list will appear, click set: select the data usage, and agree to the terms, make sure "Use these values for all applicable order items" is selected, then save
    • Click proceed
    • Click "Submit Order" at the bottom of the page
    • A confirmation e-mail should be sent when the tiles are ready for download from an ftp site
  • http://www.gdem.aster.ersdac.or.jp/
    • Create an account or log in
    • A tile count of under 100 can be downloaded immediately, over 100 the download is done in batches
    • Click on Search in the dialog box on the left
    • A page with a world map on it should have been loaded
    • Tiles can be selected by clicking on "Select tiles directly" or "Select tiles by polygon"
    • Select the desired tiles and click next
    • Check that your selection is valid, then click next
    • Select the purpose of the tile usage
    • Then download the tiles.

Geoid Height Grid

A geoid spheroid height model is required to elevate the aster tiles to the correct geoid. As the tiles are in lat/lon it is best to elevate it to wgs84, because this is a good standard. To elevate the aster we use a geoid height grid available from:

When the file has been downloaded decompress it by running the command on the command line:

  • gunzip ww15mgh.grd.z

Then to get the file in a format compatible with grass run, this gives a header compatible with grass:

  • sed "s/ -90.000000 90.000000 .000000 360.000000 .250000 .250000/north: 90.000000 \nsouth: -90.000000 \nwest: 0.000000 \neast: 360.000000\nrows: 721\ncols: 1441/g" ww15mgh.grd -i

Separation Files

If projecting the aster data to another projection with a differing elevation model a separation file needs to be used to elevate the aster correctly. For example if projecting the DEM to a osgb36 UKBNG projection from wgs84 lat/lon the elevation model is different. To elevate the aster we need a description of the height differences between the geoid and the spheroid, a file describing the differences between the two can be found at:

Attachments (3)

Download all attachments as: .zip