Mapping the Earth in 3D
January 17, 2012
(Credit: DLR)
Earth observation satellites have completely mapped the entire land surface of Earth for the first time in a German Aerospace Center (DLR) project designed to create the world’s first single-source, high-precision, 3D digital-elevation model of Earth .
The radar systems on two satellites views the ground from two different points in space, achieving depth perception in a manner similar to binocular vision in humans. By mid-2013, the satellites will have imaged the complete land surface area of Earth, roughly 150 million square kilometers, several times.
The high-resolution radar data will be be used to address questions of land usage and vegetation, hydrology, geology and glaciology, information about the height of the snowline or the change in ice masses of the two polar regions, and geological maps of regions subject to volcanic and/or earthquake activity. The speed of ships or road vehicles can be measured, as can changes in the natural world. The work performed by these two radar satellites is also valuable for agriculture.
Comments (2)
by rick
As i understand it, Google combines data from a variety of sources, mainly based on availability, legal access, and cost. Older data is cheaper. This means judgement calls on splicing together data of varying standards, quality, and age, even means of production. This sat surveys is one source, comparatively simultaneous, with control over scheduled updates. Both have their strengths, but sat surveys probably appeal to a very wide group of users, maybe including Google.
by DanR
But Google Earth has elevation figures. Are they just taken from other maps and less accurate? Otherwise, how is this so different? All we need to do is convert numbers to colors, if needed.