Starting with Android version 1.4.0 and iOS version 5.5.0, Map Pilot Pro's Terrain Awareness feature will have options for ASTER, Copernicus, SRTM and any other datasets we can add as built-in Terrain Awareness Data Sources.
Having multiple independent terrain data source choice makes it so you have options if one data source has missing data in your operating location. We recommend using Copernicus for most work since it seems to be high quality and global.
Currently Supported Terrain Data Sources
| Name | Resolution | Collection Date | Coverage | Agency |
| Copernicus | 30m | 2011-2015 | 89° to -89° | European Space Agency |
| ASTER (v3) | 30m | 2000-2020 | 83° to -83° | Japan Spacesystems |
| SRTM (v2) | 30m | February 2000 | 60° to -56° | NASA |
| 3DEP | 10m | 2019+ | United States | USGS |
If you have a specific data source you would like to see added to the list please identify a location where the files can be downloaded and we will see if we can add it.
Copernicus
Copernicus elevation data is a collection of digital elevation models (DEMs) created from radar and optical satellite data. The data provides highly accurate and detailed information about the shape and relief of the Earth's surface, including information about landforms, water bodies, and human settlements. The elevation data is available at different spatial resolutions and coverages, ranging from global to local scales, and can be used for a variety of applications, such as terrain analysis, land use planning, flood mapping, and natural resource management. Copernicus elevation data is part of the Copernicus program, which is a European Union initiative aimed at providing Earth observation data and services to support environmental and security policies.
ASTER v3
The ASTER elevation data set is a global digital elevation model (DEM) created by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument onboard NASA's Terra satellite. The data set provides highly accurate and detailed information about the Earth's surface elevation, including information about landforms, water bodies, and human settlements.
The ASTER elevation data set is generated using stereo-pair images acquired by the ASTER instrument, which has three bands in the visible and near-infrared range and 14 bands in the thermal-infrared range. The stereo-pair images are processed using a combination of automatic and manual techniques to generate a DEM with a spatial resolution of 30 meters.
SRTM v2
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data set is a global digital elevation model (DEM) created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The data set provides highly accurate and detailed information about the Earth's surface elevation, including information about landforms, water bodies, and human settlements.
The SRTM data set was created using a radar instrument onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during an 11-day mission in February 2000. The instrument, called the SRTM X-band synthetic aperture radar, transmitted signals that bounced off the Earth's surface and were received by antennas on the Space Shuttle. The data collected by the instrument were processed using interferometry techniques to generate a DEM with a spatial resolution of 30 meters. SRTM covers most of the Earth's land surface between 60 degrees north and 56 degrees south and is based on data collected during the SRTM mission and includes additional data from international partners and has been processed using more advanced algorithms to improve the accuracy of the data.
3DEP
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) data set is a comprehensive collection of digital elevation models (DEMs) created by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) using airborne and spaceborne remote sensing technologies. The data set provides highly accurate and detailed information about the elevation, terrain, and landforms of the United States.
The 3DEP program generates DEMs at different spatial resolutions and accuracies to meet the needs of various applications. The highest resolution DEMs are generated using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, which uses laser beams to measure the distance between the sensor and the Earth's surface. LiDAR DEMs typically have spatial resolutions ranging from less than 1 meter to 10 meters, depending on the application and coverage area.
Other technologies used in the 3DEP program include Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR), which uses radar signals to generate DEMs, and photogrammetry, which uses aerial photography to create 3D models of the Earth's surface. These technologies are used to generate DEMs with lower spatial resolutions ranging from 10 meters to 30 meters.
Copyright Information
Copernicus - © European Union, Copernicus Land Monitoring Service 2018, European Environment Agency (EEA)
ASTER - NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Spacesystems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003 [Data set]. NASA EOSDIS Land Processes DAAC. 2019. Available online: https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/astgtmv003/ (accessed on 15 January 2022).
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