ArcticDEM

ArcticDEM is a high-resolution, high-quality Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the Arctic, developed through an NGA-NSF initiative. It is created by automatically processing optical stereo imagery using high-performance computing and open-source photogrammetry software. This project addresses the critical need for accurate elevation data in remote locations and enables precise measurement of topographic change over time.

The dataset is constructed from hundreds of thousands of individual stereoscopic DEMs, primarily extracted from submeter resolution Maxar satellite imagery (WorldView-1, WorldView-2, WorldView-3, GeoEye-1) acquired between 2007 and 2022. The processing utilizes the Surface Extraction from TIN-based Searchspace Minimization (SETSM) software developed by M.J. Noh and Ian Howat. This methodology ensures the generation of detailed elevation models from overlapping image pairs.

ArcticDEM output is available as both "strip" files, preserving the original source material's temporal component for change detection, and "mosaic" files, which are compiled by taking the per-pixel median height value from multiple strips. Mosaic tiles offer a more consistent and comprehensive product over larger areas, complete with per-pixel minimum and maximum date ranges to facilitate further change analysis.