Comparing ground survey data with SRTM satellite data : case study in North of Iraq

Abstract EN

In this paper a comparison between DEMs, which generated from ground survey using total station and DEM generated from SRTM DEM (Space Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) with 90m spatial resolution, has been done.

The comparison achieved in two different areas, area-1 (covers 1,384,707.00 square meters) and area-2 (covers 549, 041.00 square meters).

The topography of the area-1 was non flat, while the area-2 was approximately flat.

The comparison achieved using two different methods, first method was an evaluation for contour lines which carried out between ground survey and SRTM DEM contour maps, second method was a spatial analyst test using statistical functions (e.g.

mean, standard deviation STD).

The comparison showed that the variation of SRTM data and ground survey data is small in flat areas and increases in high grade areas.

The software which is been used in comparison was ArcGIS package.