TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING USING TOPEX SATELLITE ALTIMETRY

Radar altimeters were designed to collect height data over ocean surfaces where there are few sudden changes in elevation to send the instrument off-lock. Because land surfaces are not smooth over the fairly large footprint of present day satellite altimeter systems (typically 10 km), severe restrictions are placed on the information that can be obtained in most situations. This work makes use of the free data from the Topex/Poseidon mission using a test site in the Saudi Arabian desert. The study was limited to an assessment of measurement accuracy and a feasibility study of using such data for mapping purposes. Results were compared with retracked elevation data and a digital terrain model over different types of terrain, varying from mountain to desert. It was found that, over desert areas, over 90% of the data contained valid difference height data, and it is concluded that, in principle, satellite altimetry could be used for accurate mapping purposes but that its use in all but a few cases will need to await the launch of instruments with greater spatial resolution, both in terms of footprint size and sample spacings.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339453
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Vaughan, R A
  • Karamjavan, Z
• Publication Date: 2000-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 106-122
• Serial:
  • Journal of Surveying Engineering
  • Volume: 126
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9453
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jsued2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Altimeters; Artificial satellites; Deserts; Height; Measurement; Radar; Topographic maps
• Geographic Terms: Saudi Arabia
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795770
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 2000 12:00AM