DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL VALIDATION WITH NO GROUND CONTROL: APPLICATION TO THE TOPODATA DEM IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Digital Elevation Model (DEM) validation is often carried out by comparing thedata with a set of ground control points. However, the quality of a DEM can also beconsidered in terms of shape realism. Beyond visual analysis, it can be verified thatphysical and statistical properties of the terrestrial relief are fulfilled. This approachis applied to an extract of Topodata, a DEM obtained by resampling the SRTMDEM over the Brazilian territory with a geostatistical approach. Several statisticalindicators are computed, and they show that the quality of Topodata in terms ofshape rendering is improved with regards to SRTM