Evaluation of the accuracy of digital elevation model produced from different open source data

• Published in: Journal of Engineering Vol. 25; no. 8; pp. 100 - 112
• Main Author: Hasan, Raghad Hadi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baghdad, Iraq University of Baghdad, College of Engineering 31.07.2019; University of Baghdad
• Subjects: digital elevation model (DEM), Google earth, open source data; أشكال الأرض; البيانات المفتوحة; النماذج
• ISSN: 1726-4073; 2520-3339
• DOI: 10.31026/j.eng.2019.08.07

This study aims to estimate the accuracy of digital elevation models (DEM) which are created with exploitation of open source Google Earth data and comparing with the widely available DEM datasets, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), version 3, and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM), version 2. The GPS technique is used in this study to produce digital elevation raster with a high level of accuracy, as reference raster, compared to the DEM datasets. Baghdad University, Al Jadriya campus, is selected as a study area. Besides, 151 reference points were created within the study area to evaluate the results based on the values of RMS. Furthermore, the Geographic Information System (GIS) was utilized to analyze, imagine and interpolate data in this study. The result of the statistical analysis revealed that RMSE of DEM related to the differences between the reference points and Google Earth, SRTM DEM and ASTER GDEM are 6.9, 5.5 and 4.8, respectively. What is more, a finding of this study shows convergence the level of accuracy for all open sources used in this study.