Status of “ALOS World 3D (AW3D)” global DSM generation

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is generating the global digital elevation/surface model (DEM/DSM) and ortho-rectified image (ORI) using the archived data of the Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS, nicknamed “Daichi”), which was operated from 2006 to 2011. The overview and the processing status of the global DSM/ORI dataset generation project called “ALOS World 3D” (AW3D) is introduced in this paper. It is necessary to consider data processing strategies, since the processing capabilities of the level 1 standard product and AW3D products must be developed both hardware and software to achieve the project aims. The processing strategies and an initial validation of generated DSM dataset are described. As an initial validation results, 4.10 m of height accuracy as root mean square error was confirmed. The generation and distribution of a lower resolution AW3D DSM dataset is also introduced.