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Home Projects Publications Links Contact	Products Abstracts Papers Posters VOID-FILLED SRTM DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL OF AFGHANISTAN U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 130 By Peter G. Chirico and Boris Barrios 2005 This publication was completed under Interagency Agreement 306-P-00-04-00566-00 between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S Geological Survey. EXPLANATION The purpose of this data set is to provide a single consistent elevation model to be used for national scale mapping, GIS, remote sensing applications, and natural resource assessments for Afghanistan's reconstruction. For 11 days in February of 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ian Space Agency (ASI) flew X-band and C-band radar interferometry onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. The mission covered the Earth between 60ºN and 57ºS 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 55º 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 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (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 Afghanistan DEM was gap-filling areas where the SRTM data contained a data void. These void areas are as 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 1:200,000 - scale Soviet General Staff Topographic Maps which date from the middle to late 1980's. Digital contours were gridded to form elevation models for void areas and subsequently were merged with the SRTM data through GIS and image processing techniques. The data contained in this publication includes SRTM DEM quadrangles projected and clipped in geographic coordinates for the entire country. An index of all available SRTM DEM quadrangles is displayed here: Index_Geo_DD.pdf. Also included are quadrangles projected into their appropriate Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection. The country of Afghanistan spans three UTM Zones: Zone 41, Zone 42, and Zone 43. Maps are stored in their respective UTM Zone projection. Indexes of all available SRTM DEM quadrangles in their respective UTM zone are displayed here: Index_UTM_Z41.pdf, Index_UTM_Z42.pdf, Index_UTM_Z43.pdf. CONTENTS GEO_DD Includes TIFF files of each clipped quadrangle projected in Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) coordinates. IMAGES Image files used for this data series' webpage. INDEX MAPS Index_Geo_DD.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles in Afghanistan projected in GCS coordinates. Index_UTM_Z41.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles that fall into UTM Zone 41. Projected in UTM Zone 41N, WGS 1984 Datum format. Index_UTM_Z42.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles that fall into UTM Zone 42. Projected in UTM Zone 42N, WGS 1984 Datum format. Index_UTM_Z43.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles that fall into UTM Zone 43. Projected in UTM Zone 43N, WGS 1984 Datum format. METADATA UTM_Z41_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangles projected in UTM Zone 41. UTM_Z42_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangles projected in UTM Zone 42. UTM_Z43_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangles projected in UTM Zone 43. Geo_DD_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangeles projected in GCS coordinates. SHAPEFILES index_wgs84.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in GCS coordinates. index_UTM_z41.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 41, WGS 84 Datum (zipped). index_UTM_z42.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 42, WGS 84 Datum (zipped). index_UTM_z43.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 43, WGS 84 Datum (zipped). UTM_Z41 Includes projected, into UTM Zone 41, geographically referenced, and clipped TIFF files of topographic map quadrangles that fall within UTM Zone 41. UTM_Z42 Includes projected, into UTM Zone 42, geographically referenced, and clipped TIFF files of topographic map quadrangles that fall within UTM Zone 42. UTM_Z43 Includes projected, into UTM Zone 43, geographically referenced, and clipped TIFF files of topographic map quadrangles that fall within UTM Zone 43. Readme – Text - only readme file that explains the contents of the data files. Version History Produced in cooperation with: 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.

VOID-FILLED SRTM DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL OF AFGHANISTAN

U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 130

By Peter G. Chirico and Boris Barrios

2005

This publication was completed under Interagency Agreement 306-P-00-04-00566-00 between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S Geological Survey.

EXPLANATION

The purpose of this data set is to provide a single consistent elevation model to be used for national scale mapping, GIS, remote sensing applications, and natural resource assessments for Afghanistan's reconstruction.

For 11 days in February of 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ian Space Agency (ASI) flew X-band and C-band radar interferometry onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. The mission covered the Earth between 60ºN and 57ºS 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 55º 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 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (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 Afghanistan DEM was gap-filling areas where the SRTM data contained a data void. These void areas are as 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 1:200,000 - scale Soviet General Staff Topographic Maps which date from the middle to late 1980's. Digital contours were gridded to form elevation models for void areas and subsequently were merged with the SRTM data through GIS and image processing techniques.

The data contained in this publication includes SRTM DEM quadrangles projected and clipped in geographic coordinates for the entire country. An index of all available SRTM DEM quadrangles is displayed here: Index_Geo_DD.pdf. Also included are quadrangles projected into their appropriate Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection. The country of Afghanistan spans three UTM Zones: Zone 41, Zone 42, and Zone 43. Maps are stored in their respective UTM Zone projection. Indexes of all available SRTM DEM quadrangles in their respective UTM zone are displayed here: Index_UTM_Z41.pdf, Index_UTM_Z42.pdf, Index_UTM_Z43.pdf.

CONTENTS

GEO_DD

Includes TIFF files of each clipped quadrangle projected in Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) coordinates.

IMAGES

Image files used for this data series' webpage.

INDEX MAPS

Index_Geo_DD.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles in Afghanistan projected in GCS coordinates.

Index_UTM_Z41.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles that fall into UTM Zone 41. Projected in UTM Zone 41N, WGS 1984 Datum format.

Index_UTM_Z42.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles that fall into UTM Zone 42. Projected in UTM Zone 42N, WGS 1984 Datum format.

Index_UTM_Z43.pdf – Map showing all SRTM DEM quadrangles that fall into UTM Zone 43. Projected in UTM Zone 43N, WGS 1984 Datum format.

METADATA

UTM_Z41_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangles projected in UTM Zone 41.

UTM_Z42_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangles projected in UTM Zone 42.

UTM_Z43_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangles projected in UTM Zone 43.

Geo_DD_met.html – FGDC compliant metadata file for the quadrangeles projected in GCS coordinates.

SHAPEFILES

index_wgs84.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in GCS coordinates.

index_UTM_z41.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 41, WGS 84 Datum (zipped).

index_UTM_z42.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 42, WGS 84 Datum (zipped).

index_UTM_z43.shp – Index grid of quadrangles projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 43, WGS 84 Datum (zipped).

UTM_Z41

Includes projected, into UTM Zone 41, geographically referenced, and clipped TIFF files of topographic map quadrangles that fall within UTM Zone 41.

UTM_Z42

Includes projected, into UTM Zone 42, geographically referenced, and clipped TIFF files of topographic map quadrangles that fall within UTM Zone 42.

UTM_Z43

Includes projected, into UTM Zone 43, geographically referenced, and clipped TIFF files of topographic map quadrangles that fall within UTM Zone 43.

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

Version History

Produced in cooperation with:

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.

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