NASADEM: Global 1 Arc-Second Digital Elevation Model from SRTM

A global elevation dataset at 1 arc-second spacing, derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) launched on February 11, 2000. The Land Processes DAAC distributes this NASA MEaSUREs product, which covers land between 60° N and 56° S latitude, accounting for about 80% of Earth's landmass. Data improvements include the use of ASTER GDEM, ICESat GLAS ground control, and void filling.

Use Cases

• Terrain analysis and slope calculation based on the 1 arc-second resolution elevation data.
• Hydrological modeling for watershed delineation using the elevation and water mask layers.
• Satellite image orthorectification using the improved geolocation accuracy from ground control points.
• Geographic information system (GIS) base layer creation for global landmass mapping.
• Void-filled elevation data integration for projects requiring continuous terrain models.

Strengths

• Covers approximately 80% of Earth's total landmass between 60° N and 56° S latitude.
• Provides 1 arc-second spatial resolution, a standard for detailed global elevation models.
• Integrates multiple data sources including SRTM, ASTER GDEM, and ICESat GLAS for improved accuracy.
• Includes ancillary layers such as a water body dataset and a scene count (NUM) layer.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale computational projects.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC)

Collection Method

Derived from original Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) telemetry, with reprocessing using ASTER GDEM, ICESat GLAS, and other DEMs for void filling and geoid reference.

Time Range

Primary SRTM data collected during the STS-99 mission in February 2000.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:52:35.302559; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage of land between 60° N and 56° S latitude.