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TOPOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS OF ECUADOR

U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 136

By Peter G. Chirico and Michael B. Warner

2005

EXPLANATION

The digital elevation model of Ecuador represented in this data set was produced from over 40 individual tiles of elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Each tile was downloaded, converted from its native Height file format (.hgt), and imported into a geographic information system (GIS) for additional processing. Processing of the data included data gap filling, mosaicking, and re-projection of the tiles to form one single seamless digital elevation model.

For 11 days in February of 2000, NASA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) flew X-band and C-band radar interferometry onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. The mission covered the Earth between 60°N and 57°S and will provide interferometric digital elevation models (DEMs) of approximately 80% of the Earth's land mass when processing is complete. The radar-pointing angle was approximately 55° at scene center. Ascending and descending orbital passes generated multiple interferometric data scenes for nearly all areas. Up to eight passes of data were merged to form the final processed SRTM DEMs. The effect of merging scenes averages elevation values recorded in coincident scenes and reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the amount of area with layover and terrain shadow effects.

The most significant form of data processing for the Ecuador DEM was gap-filling areas where the SRTM data contained a data void. These void areas are a result of radar shadow, layover, standing water, and other effects of terrain, as well as technical radar interferometry phase unwrapping issues. To fill these gaps, topographic contours were digitized from 1:50,000 - scale topographic maps which date from the mid-late 1980's (Souris, 2001). Digital contours were gridded to form elevation models for void areas and subsequently were merged with the SRTM data through GIS and remote sensing image-processing techniques.

The data contained in this publication includes a gap filled, countrywide SRTM DEM of Ecuador projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 17 North projection, Provisional South American, 1956, Ecuador datum and a non gap filled SRTM DEM of the Galapagos Islands projected in UTM Zone 15 North projection. Both the Ecuador and Galapagos Islands DEMs are available as an ESRI Grid, stored as ArcInfo Export files (.e00), and in Erdas Imagine (IMG) file formats with a 90 meter pixel resolution. Also included in this publication are high and low resolution Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files of topography and landforms maps in Ecuador. The high resolution map should be used for printing and display, while the lower resolution map can be used for quick viewing and reference purposes.

References:

Souris M., 2001, Repùblica del Ecuador : modelo numérico del relieve, escala 1:1000000, Modèle numérique calculé à partir des cartes topographiques del I'IGM (1:50000, 1:1000000), édité et distribuée par I'IGM, Quito.

CONTENT

ECUADOR DEM

Includes a gap filled, countrywide SRTM DEM of Ecuador, excluding the Galapagos Islands, projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 17 N, Provisional South American, 1956 Datum. This folder includes DEMs in ESRI Grid format, stored as an ArcInfo Export file (.e00), and in Erdas Imagine (IMG) format with a resolution of 90 meters.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS DEM

Includes a non-gap filled SRTM DEM of the Galapagos Islands, projected in UTM Zone 15 N, Provisional South American, 1956 Datum. This folder includes DEMs in ESRI Grid format, stored as an ArcInfo Export file (.e00), and in Erdas Imagine (IMG) format with a resolution of 90 meters.

HIGH RESO MAP

ecuador_srtm.pdf – Includes a high resolution Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file of a topography and landforms map of Ecuador to be used for display and printing purposes. File Size (17.2 MB)

You will need Adobe Reader to view this file. Download a copy of the latest version of Adobe Reader for free.

IMAGES

Image files used for this data series' webpage.

LOW_RESO_MAP

ecuador_srtm_low.pdf – Includes a low resolution Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file of a topography and landforms map of Ecuador.

METADATA

Ecuador_DEM_met – FGDC compliant metadata file for the SRTM DEM of the country of Ecuador.

Galapagos_DEM_met – FGDC compliant metadata file for the SRTM DEM of the Galapagos Islands.

ecu_rivers_met – FGDC compliant metadata files for the rivers shapefile of Ecuador.

ecu_lakes_met – FGDC compliant metadata files for the lakes shapefile of Ecuador.

SHAPEFILES

ecu_rivers.shp – A hydrography shapefile of Ecuador derived from 90 meter SRTM data.

ecu_lakes.shp – A shapefile of lakes in Ecuador.

Readme.txt – Text - only readme file that explains the contents of the data files

Version History

Disclaimer

Neither the U.S. Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights.

References to non-USGS products, services and tradenames are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

A low resolution Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file of a topography and landforms map of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

File Size (3.58 MB)

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
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