Comparison of Vertical Accuracy of Open-Source Global Digital Elevation Models: A Case Study of Adama City, Ethiopia

Abstract

DEM can be generated from a wide range of sources including land surveys, Photogrammetry, and Remote sensing satellites. SRTM 30m DEM by The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), the Global Digital Elevation Model by Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflectance Radiometer (ASTER GDEM) and a global surface model called ALOS Worldview 3D 30 meter (AW3D30) by Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) are satellite-based global DEMs open-source DEM datasets. This study aims to assess the vertical accuracy of ASTER GDEM2, SRTM 30m, and ALOS (AW3D30) global DEMs over Ethiopia in the study area-Adama by using DGPS points and available accurate reference DEM data. The method used to evaluate the vertical accuracy of those DEMs ranges from simple visual comparison to relative and absolute comparisons providing quantitative assessment (Statistical) that used the elevation differences between DEM datasets and reference datasets. The result of this assessment showed better accuracy of SRTM 30m DEM (having RMSE of ± 4.63 m) and closely followed by ALOS (AW3D30) DEM which scored RMSE of ± 5.25 m respectively. ASTER GDEM 2 showed the least accuracy by scoring RMSE of ± 11.18 m in the study area. The second accuracy assessment was done by the analysis of derived products such as slope and drainage networks. This also resulted in a better quality of DEM derived products for SRTM than ALOS DEM and ASTER GDEM.