EarthDEM: 2-Meter Resolution Global Digital Elevation Models from 2002

EarthDEM provides 2-meter Ground Sample Distance (GSD) Digital Elevation Models and mosaics constructed from Maxar satellite imagery. The dataset covers non-polar regions from 2002 to the present and is produced by the Polar Geospatial Center. Only a portion is publicly available; the full dataset is accessible to federally-funded researchers via NASA CSDA's Smallsat Data Explorer.

Use Cases

• Perform change detection analysis based on the time-dependent nature of the strip DEM files.
• Compare topographic observations from different seasons or years based on the time-series elevation data.
• Create consistent elevation maps over large areas based on the mosaic DEM tiles assembled from multiple strips.

Strengths

• 2-meter ground sample distance provides high-resolution elevation detail.
• Time-series data from 2002 to the present enables longitudinal analysis.
• Mosaic tiles are assembled from multiple strips for consistency over large areas.

Limitations

• Row count and total dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Only a portion of the worldwide dataset is available publicly; full access is restricted.

Provenance

Source

Polar Geospatial Center

Collection Method

Constructed from in-track and cross-track high-resolution (~0.5 meter) imagery acquired by the Maxar constellation of optical imaging satellites.

Time Range

2002 to the present

Freshness

Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Geography

Non-polar regions worldwide