A review on global and localised coverage elevation data sources for topographic application

Abstract

As the need for elevation data grows, it is more vital than ever for users to match the data degree of dependability, precision, and spatial resolution to their specific uses to produce a useful and cost-effective product. This article will describe several sources of elevation data, ranging from space-based to aerial-based techniques, and classify the data according to its respective quality and accuracy. The elevation data sources can be classified into two namely localised or can also be referred to as regional, and global coverage. Among the example of localised sources of elevation data are Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). The global sources of elevation data are Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer-Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER), Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOSW3D), Global Multi-Resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 (GMTED2010), TerraSAR-X add on for daily Digital Elevation Measurement (TanDEM-X), The Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), Radar Satellite (RADARSAT) Constellation Mission (RCM) and Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB). The characteristics of each elevation data source were discussed in terms of its launch date, period of observation, spatial resolution, horizontal and vertical datum, and coverage. Its reliability was described in detail for future topographic applications.