World's most complete map released

The most up-to-date and complete topographical record of the Earth's surface has been launched as a result of a collaboration between Japan's ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and NASA

Captured by Japan’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) – an imaging instrument attached to NASA’s Terra satellite – the Global Digital Elevation Map (GDEM) has been constructed from 1.3 million individual satellite images covering 99 per cent of the Earth’s surface, improving on existing topographic maps, which have up to 80 per cent coverage.

The GDEM contains a detailed record of elevation, surface temperature and reflectance of the Earth, which will help to shed light on a range of disciplines, according to Michael Abrams, ASTER science team leader at NASA. ‘Topography is a dominant controlling factor in virtually all physical processes that occur on Earth’s land surface,’ he said. ‘Accurate topographic data are used across the board in engineering, energy exploration, conserving natural resources, environmental management, public works design, military operations, firefighting, recreation, geology and city planning, among others.’

September 2009