VERTICAL ACCURACY ASSESSMENT FOR OPEN-SOURCE DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL: A CASE STUDY OF BASRAH CITY, IRAQ

Abstract. In the diverse domains of earth observation, elevation data are essential for a wide range of applications with various technical requirements and use cases. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer-Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM), Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 (GMTED2010), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), and other projects have made a large number of global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets for environmental modelling and studies freely available. Global DEMs have undergone an accuracy review to measure their inherent vertical uncertainty to show how accurate information should be considered while planning and analysing. Comparing the DEMs with highly accurate geodetic control points as the independent reference data one of the best methods in the evaluation process. SRTM 30m, SRTM 90m, ALOS World 3D-30, Aster-GDEM, GMTED2010, and NASADEM are among the worldwide DEMs that were examined. Comparisons are made between 793 geodetic control points values and those from SRTM 30m, SRTM 90m, ALOS World 3D-30, Aster-GDEM, GMTED2010, and NASADEM. The statistical analysis of global DEMs from GPS reference elevations gave us that the accuracy of the ALOS World 3D-30m is much better than other models with RMSE and STD values of 1.2497 and 1.235 m, respectively. In contrast, Aster-GDEM exhibited the highest RMSE and residual error of STD values of 5.793 m and 3.394 m, respectively.