High Resolution Topographic Data Available for Research
July 22, 2011
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
The NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Cartography Program would like to familiarize the planetary community with opportunities for obtaining high-resolution digital topographic data in support of geologic mapping and other research. These opportunities are of particular importance because the cartography program does not currently support the systematic production of topographic map quadrangles.
The Astrogeology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, operates a Planetary Photogrammetry Guest Facility on behalf of NASA’s Planetary Geology and Geophysics program.
Qualified scientists are welcome to use this facility to produce digital topographic models (DTMs) from stereo images. Training and use of the system are free but researchers are responsible for their travel expenses because the state-of-the-art hardware/software system cannot be used remotely. For more information about capabilities and how to apply, see
http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Technology/Photogrammetry/
Cartographers of the Astrogeology Team are also available to partner with researchers to deliver DTMs via subcontract to a research proposal. The cost of DTMs depends on the volume and complexity of the image data analyzed and the ancillary products included, but is in the range of $5-10K for HiRISE and LROC-NAC DTMs with meter-scale resolution and ~108 height points.
For further information, visit the website above or send inquiries to Dr. Randolph Kirk at the USGS ([email protected]).
Last updated July 22, 2011
