The Ohio State University and the Polar Geospatial Center have released a pre-event 8m posting elevation model for the Kathmandu area.  It is produced from DigitalGlobe stereo imagery provided by the National Geospatial-Intellegence Agency under the NextView license.  The DEM can be freely distributed.

The DEM can be downloaded at:   http://www.pgc.umn.edu/elevation

Please see below for metadata and for user advise.  This email should be forwarded.

Paul Morin
Director, Polar Geospatial Center
University of Minnesota
R280 Learning and Environmental Sciences
1954 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Advice for use of the SETSM 8 meter Posting Elevation Model of
Kathmandu, Nepal
MJ Noh and Ian Howat
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University
Claire Porter, Paul Morin, Mike Clementz and Mike Cloutier
Polar Geospatial Center, University of Minnesota
This is a 8m posting DEM produced using the Surface Extraction with TINbased
Searchspace
Minimization (SETSM) from M.J. Noh and I. Howat at the Ohio State University.
The Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) provided here are gridded surface elevation data
constructed from overlapping pairs highresolution
(~0.5 m) images acquired by the
DigitalGlobe, Inc. Worldview1
and 2 satellites licensed through the NGA EnhancedView
program. The DEMs are built using photogrammetric techniques in which common features
are identified in each image and are used to model the relative three dimensional position of
the terrain. These DEMs are constructed without ground control and rely on the satellite
positioning model (also called the Rational Function Model, or RFM) to locate the surface in
space. The accuracy of the DEM is primarily limited by the accuracy of the rational polynomial
coefficients, or RPC’s, used in the RFM model, and is expected to be several meters in the
vertical dimension. Additional errors in the DEM arise from edge effects in the individual
DEMs and failure in the matching software due to clouds, shadows, and lack of contrast.
Future versions will include filtering of errors and registration to ground control.
A shaded relief image of the extent of the 8m posting elevation model.
Advice for use of the SETSM 8 meter Posting Elevation Model of Kathmandu, Nepal 1 May 2015
Basic Metadata:
Agency = NSF/NASA Byrd Polar & Climate Research Center,Ohio
State University and the Polar
Geospatial Center University
of Minnesota.
Vendor = DigitalGlobe Inc., NGA, NSF, NASA
Sensor = Worldview 1 and 2
Acq dates = Feb 6, 2009 / March 29,2009
Licensing = Public/Unrestricted
Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator UTM
Zone 45 North
Horizontal Datum: WGS84
Elevation Units: meters
Elevation is WGS84 and NOT Mean Sea Level
NO GROUND CONTROL USED
Users should include, “ DigitalGlobe imagery was used to produce this digital elevation model ” in any
product.
DigitalGlobe Strips Used:
February 6, 2009 1020010006E03500 10200100062AF700
March 29, 2009 10200100060BC900 1020010007E0AC00
June 7, 2010 103001000535D200 10300100058EA900 1030010005C59900
IMPORTANT : The following information is intended to provide general reference and observation regarding
the SETSM Digital Elevation Model (DEM) over Kathmandu and is not intended to be a comprehensive
accuracy validation of the derived dataset. The accuracy of the aerodrome reference point elevation value
stated by Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority is unknown within the scope of this evaluation, but is generally
believed to be within 0.5 meters.
Based on the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) for Tribhuvan International Airport produced by the
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the surveyed airport reference point (ARP) is located at the coordinate
position outlined below with an elevation of 1339.54 meters (4394.76 feet). A comparison to the elevation
value of the SETSM DEM data reveals the following results:
Tribhuvan International Airport Reference Point (ARP):
27° 41’ 49.778” N
85° 21’ 28.535” E
Elevation: 1339.54 meters above MSL
SETSM DEM Elevation at Tribhuvan ARP:
27° 41’ 49.778” N
85° 21’ 28.535” E
Elevation: 1286.741 meters (WGS84 ellipsoid height)
Geoid height = 49.879
(meters)
Orthometric height (height above EGM96 geoid which approximates mean sea level) = 1336.62
(meters)
Observed difference between documented ARP elevation and SETSM DEM at the specified point:
1336.62 1339.54
= 2.92
meters
Advice for use of the SETSM 8 meter Posting Elevation Model of Kathmandu, Nepal 1 May 2015
References:
http://eaip.
caanepal.org.np/_uploads/_pdf/36998edb866ae55f4d2e93c455f9f29e.pdf
http://www.caanepal.org.np/publication/AIP%202011%20Amendment/AIP_AMDT_AIP_SUP_2012/AIP%20
AMDTA001_2012_For%20Print/VNKT%20AD%2021%
20TO%20212.
pdf
http://www.caanepal.org.np/aerodrome/Document%20for%20verify%20accuracy%20and%20integrity%20of
%20Aeronautical%20Data.pdf
http://www.pgc.umn.edu/elevation/stereo
Noh, M.J., I.M. Howat, Automated stereophotogrammetric
DEM generation at high latitudes: Surface
Extraction from TINBased
Search Minimization (SETSM) validation and demonstration over glaciated
regions, GIScience and Remote Sensing, doi:10.1080/15481603.2015.1008621
We gratefully acknowledge the National GeospatialIntelligence
Agency, DigitalGlobe, the
National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United
States Geological Survey, the CAC DRO and the USGS Eros Data Center for extensive
support.