How Well Can Spaceborne Digital Elevation Models Represent a Man-Made Structure: A Runway Case Study

In this case study, an active runway of a civilian airport in Zonguldak, Turkey, is used to assess the suitability of spaceborne digital elevation models (DEMs) to model an anthropogenic structure. The tested DEMs include the ASTER, the AW3D30 m, the SRTM-1”, the SRTM-3”, the SRTM-X, the TanDEM-3”, and the WorldDEMTM. A photogrammetric high accuracy DEM was also available for the tests. As a reference dataset, a line leveling survey of the runway using a Leica Sprinter 150/150M instrument was performed. The selection of a runway as a testbed for this type of investigation is justified by its unique characteristics, including its flat surface, homogenous surface material, and availability for a ground survey. These characteristics are significant because DEMs over similar structures are free from environment- and target-induced error sources. The most accurate DEM is the WorldDEMTM followed by the SRTM-3” and TanDEM-3”, with vertical errors (LE90) equal to 1.291 m, 1.542 m, and 1.56 m, respectively. This investigation uses a method for identifying the vertical errors in DEMs that is known as the runway method.

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How Well can Spaceborne Digital Elevation Models Represent a Man-Made Structure: A Runway Case Study

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences9090387 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 387 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kazimierz Becek ◽

Volkan Akgül ◽

Samed Inyurt ◽

Çetin Mekik ◽

Patrycja Pochwatka

Keyword(s):

Flat Surface ◽

Thermal Emission ◽

Digital Elevation Models ◽

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽

Reference Dataset ◽

Error Sources ◽

Ground Survey ◽

Digital Elevation ◽

Selection Of

In this case study, an active runway of a civilian airport in Zonguldak, Turkey was used to assess the suitability of spaceborne digital elevation models (DEMs) to model an anthropogenic structure. The tested DEMs include the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) World 3D 30 m (AW3D30), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)-1”, the SRTM-3”, the SRTM-X, the TanDEM-3”, and the WorldDEMTM. A photogrammetric high accuracy DEM was also available for the tests. As a reference dataset, a line-leveling survey of the runway using a Leica Sprinter 150/150M instrument was performed. The selection of a runway as a testbed for this type of investigation is justified by its unique characteristics, including its flat surface, homogenous surface material, and availability for a ground survey. These characteristics are significant because DEMs over similar structures are free from environment- and target-induced error sources. For our test area, the most accurate DEM was the WorldDEMTM followed by the SRTM-3” and TanDEM-3”, with vertical errors (LE90) equal to 1.291 m, 1.542 m, and 1.56 m, respectively. This investigation uses a method, known as the runway method, for identifying the vertical errors in DEMs.

Download Full-text