Abstract
Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are real-world geographical databases that are important in studying many Earth related topics. Because the vertical accuracy of global DEMs differs across regions due to various reasons, acquiring reliable heights for a region using global height models is crucial. The objective of this study is to compare and assess the most reliable global height model for Sri Lanka. The official height system in Sri Lanka is the Mean Sea Level (MSL) based orthometric height system. In this study, the quality of ASTER, SRTM, NASADEM, MERIT, and DEMs compiled from digitized contour data of Sri Lanka was evaluated using the known heights of the Fundamental Benchmarks (FBMs) of Sri Lanka. In addition, recently published high-resolution Global Geopotential Models (GGMs) were used for the accuracy assessments of gravity related quantities computed using DEMs. The SGG-UGM-2 GGM, which showed the minimum STD and RMSE of geoid undulation difference was found as the best fit GGM over Sri Lanka. It was found that the NASADEM at its highest resolution, which gave the lowest RMSE of 2.954 m was the best global DEM for Sri Lanka.
Acknowledgments
The Authors express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Dai Yamazaki of the University of Tokyo who has given permission to download the MERIT DEM data.
-
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
-
Research funding: None declared.
-
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
References
1. Li, Z, Zhu, Q, Gold, C. Digital terrain modeling: principles and methodology. In: Digital Terrain Modeling: Principles and Methodology. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2004.Search in Google Scholar
2. Ajvazi, B, Czimber, K. A comparative analysis of different DEM interpolation methods in GIS: case study of Rahovec, Kosovo. Geodesy Cartogr 2019;45:43–8. https://doi.org/10.3846/gac.2019.7921.Search in Google Scholar
3. Wessel, B, Huber, M, Wohlfart, C, Marschalk, U, Kosmann, D, Roth, A. Accuracy assessment of the global TanDEM-X digital elevation model with GPS data. ISPRS J Photogrammetry Remote Sens 2018;139:171–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2018.02.017.Search in Google Scholar
4. Farr, TG, Rosen, PA, Caro, E, Crippen, R, Duren, R, Hensley, S, et al.. The shuttle radar topography mission. Rev Geophys 2007;4:RG2004. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005rg000183.Search in Google Scholar
5. Abrams, M, Crippen, R, Fujisada, H. ASTER global digital elevation model (GDEM) and ASTER global water body dataset (ASTWBD). Rem Sens 2020;12:1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12071156.Search in Google Scholar
6. Yamazaki, D, Ikeshima, D, Tawatari, R, Yamaguchi, T, O’Loughlin, F, Neal, JC, et al.. A high-accuracy map of global terrain elevations. Geophys Res Lett 2017;44:5844–53. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072874.Search in Google Scholar
7. Crippen, R, Buckley, S, Belz, E, Gurrola, E, Hensley, S, Kobrick, M, et al.. NASADEM Global Elevation Model: Methods and Progress. ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences; 2016.10.5194/isprsarchives-XLI-B4-125-2016Search in Google Scholar
8. Uuemaa, E, Ahi, S, Montibeller, B, Muru, M, Kmoch, A. Vertical accuracy of freely available global digital elevation models (Aster, aw3d30, merit, tandem-x, srtm, and nasadem). Rem Sens 2020;12:1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213482.Search in Google Scholar
9. Elkhrachy, I. Vertical accuracy assessment for SRTM and ASTER digital elevation models: a case study of Najran city, Saudi Arabia. Ain Shams Eng J 2018;9:1807–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2017.01.007.Search in Google Scholar
10. Al-Krargy, E, Hosny, M, Dawod, G. Investigating the precision of recent global geoid models and global digital elevation models for geoid modelling in Egypt. In: Regional Conference on Surveying & Development, December; 2015. pp. 3–6.Search in Google Scholar
11. Prasanna, HMI, Gunathilaka, MDEK, Welikanna, DR. Development of a unified vertical reference framework for land and hydrographic surveying in Sri Lanka. Mar Geodes 2021;44:238–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490419.2021.1902889.Search in Google Scholar
12. Pavlis, NK, Holmes, SA, Kenyon, SC, Factor, JK. The development and evaluation of the earth gravitational model 2008 (EGM2008). J Geophys Res Solid Earth 2012;117:1–38. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011jb008916.Search in Google Scholar
13. Grombein, T, Seitz, K, Heck, B. On high-frequency topography-implied gravity signals for a height system unification using GOCE-based global geopotential models. Surv Geophys 2016;38:443–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-016-9400-4.Search in Google Scholar
14. Prasanna, HMI, Gunathilaka, MDEK. Detection of GPS-levelling datum variation using heterogeneous data: A case study in Sri Lanka. J Geospat Surveying 2022;2:1. https://doi.org/10.4038/jgs.v2i1.34.Search in Google Scholar
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- 3D concept creation of permanent geodetic monitoring installations and the a priori assessment of systematic effects using Virtual Reality
- Modeling the gravitational effects of ocean tide loading at coastal stations in the China earthquake gravity network based on GOTL software
- Comparison of different global DTMs and GGMs over Sri Lanka
- Performance tests of geodetic receivers with tilt sensors in obstructed environments using the NRTK GNSS technique
- Fitting a triaxial ellipsoid to a set of quasi-selenoidal points
- A real-time algorithm for continuous navigation in intelligent transportation systems using LiDAR-Gyroscope-Odometer integration
- Ionospheric scintillation characteristics from GPS observations over Malaysian region after the 2011 Valentine’s day solar flare
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- 3D concept creation of permanent geodetic monitoring installations and the a priori assessment of systematic effects using Virtual Reality
- Modeling the gravitational effects of ocean tide loading at coastal stations in the China earthquake gravity network based on GOTL software
- Comparison of different global DTMs and GGMs over Sri Lanka
- Performance tests of geodetic receivers with tilt sensors in obstructed environments using the NRTK GNSS technique
- Fitting a triaxial ellipsoid to a set of quasi-selenoidal points
- A real-time algorithm for continuous navigation in intelligent transportation systems using LiDAR-Gyroscope-Odometer integration
- Ionospheric scintillation characteristics from GPS observations over Malaysian region after the 2011 Valentine’s day solar flare