Verification of the vertical error in C-band SRTM DEM using ICESat and Landsat-7, Otter Tail County, MN

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) provided scientists with digital elevation data on a nearly global scale and with highly consistent accuracy. This paper compares elevation values of the C-band SRTM 30-m digital elevation model (DEM) with pointwise elevations from the Ice, Cloud, and land-Elevation Satellite (ICESat) laser altimetry for Otter Tail County, MN. The accuracy of SRTM DEM is measured as a function of land covers and geomorphologic characteristics. The typical mean vertical difference between the SRTM DEM and ICESat elevations in this paper was determined in each classified land-use type and is approximately 1.5 m over bare ground, with the SRTM measuring lower elevations. Significant changes in the SRTM DEM uncertainties have been identified over different surface types classified from Landsat-7 imagery, e.g., bare ground, urban, and forested areas. Based on this result, the difference of the SRTM 30-m DEM and ICESat elevations has been removed from the DEM and made available for improved hydrological applications.