Characteristics of ASTER GDEM version 2

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) was released to the public in My 2009. The GDEM version 2, currently under development, is reproduced using an updated algorithm and contains new ASTER data observed after September 2008. Validation study of the trial and beta version of GDEM version 2 was carried out to investigate its characteristics such as geolocation error, elevation error and horizontal resolution. The results of the study confirmed that elevation offset and horizontal resolution will be greatly improved in version 2 and the enhanced horizontal resolution will serve to reduce the standard deviation of elevation and geolocation error.