Information technology and cartography: The most complete digital topographic map of our planet published

18 October 2011 the NASA published the most complete topographic digital map of our planet. The map, also known as the Global Digital Elevation Model, was created on the basis of images provided by ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer), a Japan’s scientific tool, installed on the Terra, NASA’s satellite.

3D-effect, achieved by combining multiple two-dimensional images, provides a so-called "stereo-pair," which enables to make an image deep. The first images taken by the Terra and created by "stereo pairs" method were published jointly by NASA and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in June 2009.

"The global map created by ASTER, already is the most complete single topographic map of the world. With the improvements obtained in the project Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, its coverage only improved", - said Woody Turner, Program Manager of ASTER.

According to NASA, ASTER data covers 99% of the land on the planet - from 83 degrees north to 83 south. An improved version has 260 000 additional stereo pairs, improved spatial resolution and greater accuracy in the horizontal and vertical.