[mkgmap-dev] ASTER elevation data

Tue Jun 30 21:18:54 BST 2009

I came across this via Slashdot:

http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jun/HQ_09-150_ASTER_Topographic_Map.html

Quoting the press release above:

"Previously, the most complete topographic set of data publicly available
was from NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. That mission mapped
80 percent of Earth's landmass, between 60 degrees north latitude and
57 degrees south. The new ASTER data expands coverage to 99 percent,
from 83 degrees north latitude and 83 degrees south. Each elevation
measurement point in the new data is 98 feet apart."

This is good news for us North Europeans.  The north limit of the SRTM
is a few hundred meters north from my home, about 30 km north from
the Helsinki coast.

Can anyone who knows the topography business take a look at this data
and write scripts for translating ASTER elevation data and OSM with mkgmap?
At the end of the above press release, there are a few links that ought
to be useful for us:

> For visualizations of the new ASTER topographic data, visit:
> http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/20090629.html

> Data users can download the ASTER global digital elevation model at:
> https://wist.echo.nasa.gov/~wist/api/imswelcome
> and
> http://www.gdem.aster.ersdac.or.jp

Best regards,

	Marko 