Digital elevation models: Terminology and definitions

Peter L. Guth; Adriaan Van Niekerk; Carlos H. Grohmann; Jan-Peter Muller; Laurence Hawker; Igor V. Florinsky; Dean B. Gesch; Hannes I. Reuter; Virginia Herrera-Cruz; Serge Riazanoff; Carlos López-Vázquez; Claudia C. Carabajal; Clément Albinet; Peter Strobl

doi:10.3390/rs13183581

Digital elevation models: Terminology and definitions

Remote Sensing

By: Peter L. Guth, Adriaan Van Niekerk, Carlos H. Grohmann, Jan-Peter Muller, Laurence Hawker, Igor V. Florinsky, Dean B. Gesch, Hannes I. Reuter, Virginia Herrera-Cruz, Serge Riazanoff, Carlos López-Vázquez, Claudia C. Carabajal, Clément Albinet, and Peter Strobl

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13183581

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Abstract

Digital elevation models (DEMs) provide fundamental depictions of the three-dimensional shape of the Earth’s surface and are useful to a wide range of disciplines. Ideally, DEMs record the interface between the atmosphere and the lithosphere using a discrete two-dimensional grid, with complexities introduced by the intervening hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. The treatment of DEM surfaces, affected by these intervening spheres, depends on their intended use, and the characteristics of the sensors that were used to create them. DEM is a general term, and more specific terms such as digital surface model (DSM) or digital terrain model (DTM) record the treatment of the intermediate surfaces. Several global DEMs generated with optical (visible and near-infrared) sensors and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), as well as single/multi-beam sonars and products of satellite altimetry, share the common characteristic of a georectified, gridded storage structure. Nevertheless, not all DEMs share the same vertical datum, not all use the same convention for the area on the ground represented by each pixel in the DEM, and some of them have variable data spacings depending on the latitude. This paper highlights the importance of knowing, understanding and reflecting on the sensor and DEM characteristics and consolidates terminology and definitions of key concepts to facilitate a common understanding among the growing community of DEM users, who do not necessarily share the same background.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Digital elevation models: Terminology and definitions
Series title	Remote Sensing
DOI	10.3390/rs13183581
Volume	13
Issue	18
Year Published	2021
Language	English
Publisher	MDPI
Contributing office(s)	Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description	3581, 19 p.
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page