Alaska DEM Workshop

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Alaska DEM Workshop
Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative (SDMI)
www.alaskamapped.org
agdc.usgs.gov

• July 22 -23, 2008
• Anchorage, Alaska
• NDEP-NDOP results presentation August 18, 2008
• Tom Heinrichs, UAF-GINA
• tom.heinrichs_at_alaska.edu www.gina.alaska.edu

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Conveners
Statewide Digital Mapping Initiative
(SDMI) www.alaskamapped.org
agdc.usgs.gov
The purpose of the Alaska Geographic Data
Committee is to provide a forum for 1.
Coordination of spatial data development
projects 2. Development of coordinated
methodologies for implementing standards and
policies and 3. Review and response to Federal
Geographic Data Committee initiatives.
The Alaska Statewide Digital Mapping Initiatives
goals are to acquire new and better statewide
orthoimagery, elevation, and control data for
Alaska and to make existing map data more easily
available.
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Sponsors
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An Example of Existing NED Error in Western Alaska
Swathviewer http//sv.gina.alaska.edu 162.1W,
68.1N
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Western Alaska - Landsat 7 draped on
NED(horizontal accuracy of Landsat data
confirmed along coast)
Kevin Engle UAF GINA http//www.gina.alaska.edu

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Alaska High-Altitude Photography Program

• Alaska was photographed from high-altitude U-2
  and ER-2 aircraft between 1978 and 1986 under a
  multi-agency, State and Federal partnership led
  by the USGS.

Program docs at http//www.alaskamapped.org
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Alaska has been mapped before 1950s 163,360
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Goals

• Learn about potential solutions from data
  providers
• Study requirements for an improved, statewide
  Alaska DEM
• Summarize options and classify potential
  solutions
• Make recommendations for next steps.
• Outcome Whitepaper report that informs next steps

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Choices

• In deciding the specification for an
  organizations acquisition of DEMs, it ultimately
  comes down to making choices. Some of these
  choices impact costs, whereas others do not. 1

Tradeoffs

• Given a limited pool of funding, how do we
  manipulate the variables of data accuracy,
  product (DTM, DSM, hydro edits), spatial extent
  of coverage, and licensing to optimize the impact
  and value of funds spent?

1 Maune, David F. Digital Elevation Model
Technologies and Applications The DEM Users
Manual, 2nd Edition, ASPRS, 2007.
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Plenty of Reason for Optimism
Its been done twice before
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Thank you!