A Strategy for Production of Digital Elevation Models in Korea

The National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) in korea, through the National Geographic Information System (NGIS) Program, has prepared to generate and disseminate digital elevation data for Korea. This is a pilot research to propose a policy for production, maintenance, and supply of Korea Digital Elevation Data(KDED). Customer demands for accuracy and resolution of DEM was surveyed through a questionnaire. In order to investigate the quality, the technical efficiency and the production cost, a tentative DEM in a small test site was generated based on digital topographic maps (original paper map scale 1:5,000), analytical plotter, and LIDAR. The Accuracy standard for KDED was derived based on source data generation methods. As a result of this research, a uniformly spaced grid model was recommended for KDED. Its preferable grid space is 5m in urban areas and its vicinity, and 10m in field and mountainous area. LIDAR has been valuated as a proper KDED generation method fulfilling customers' demands for the accuracy.