Par for the course I am afraid. I've had to get ahold of NASA data before for some of the graphics work I've done in the past, and it's always a headache.
I feel like a troll even suggesting that this isn't an amazing accomplishment, but did anybody else do a double-take when they read:
"For the Aster measurements, local elevation was mapped with each point just 30m apart. "
That's an impressive number of points for the entire earth's surface, it just doesn't strike me as being particularly remarkable in 2009, and I'm surprised that it is the _most complete_ terrain map.
I suspect I'm revealing my supreme ignorance of the state of GIS here, but I'd be interested in hearing what other people's thoughts are.
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[ 905 ms ] story [ 706 ms ] threadFor visualizations of the new Aster topographic data, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/20090629.html
Data users can download the Aster global digital elevation model at: https://wist.echo.nasa.gov/~wist/api/imswelcome and http://www.gdem.aster.ersdac.or.jp
No, NASA is not user friendly.
Who'll be first to integrate this, google maps or bing, or somebody else? Who ever it is, I can't wait.
"For the Aster measurements, local elevation was mapped with each point just 30m apart. "
That's an impressive number of points for the entire earth's surface, it just doesn't strike me as being particularly remarkable in 2009, and I'm surprised that it is the _most complete_ terrain map.
I suspect I'm revealing my supreme ignorance of the state of GIS here, but I'd be interested in hearing what other people's thoughts are.