16 replies to this topic

[Josh]

I'm putting together a world physical map and I am looking for the highest resolution data set available. this is the best that i've found so far is from: http://www.mapmart.com/DEM/DEM.htm (their SRTM-90 3" or 90 Meters set). the problem is that this is only from
57 South Latitude to 61 North Latitude...another words no Northern Alaska or Santa's house. Any suggestion on where to purchase a better set would be great!
Thanks,
J

[Claude]

i'm looking for the highest resolustion worldwide DEM data set possible. this is the best that i've found so far: http://www.mapmart.com/DEM/DEM.htm (their SRTM-90 3" or 90 Meters set). the problem is that this is only from 57 South Latitude to 61 North Latitude...in other words no N.Alaska or Santa's house. Any ideas of a complete worldwide set?

[rmcculley]

Is this what you would be looking for?

http://www.geotorren...tails.php?id=40

[mdsumner]

I usually use ETOPO2:

http://www.ngdc.noaa...rs/01mgg04.html

http://www.ngdc.noaa.../relief/ETOPO2/

[merft]

I'm putting together a world physical map and I am looking for the highest resolution data set available. this is the best that i've found so far is from: http://www.mapmart.com/DEM/DEM.htm  (their SRTM-90  3" or 90 Meters set). the problem is that this is only from
57 South Latitude to 61 North Latitude...another words no Northern Alaska or Santa's house. Any suggestion on where to purchase a better set would be great!
Thanks,
J

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http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org/

[Hans van der Maarel]

I've merged the other thread on this topic into this one.

[DaveB]

Is there some kind of cartographic scavenger hunt going on?
2 people looking for the best DEM data for the entire world at nearly the same time. For the scale of world maps (unless they are going to be huge) the readily available data already mentioned are fine.
There is also Tom Patterson's natural earth data. All set to go, with Tom's usual high quality. It's not just the landcover data either. He has gray-scale shaded relief, too (among other data). No dems as far as I can find, though (hint, hint, Tom ).

[Hans van der Maarel]

Actually, Tom also did CleanTopo2, which includes bathymetry. Well worth checking out. It's available as a greyscale tiff, but if somebody is interested, I can get you a set of VNS .elev files of this as well. Just PM me.

[DaveB]

Actually, Tom also did CleanTopo2, which includes bathymetry. Well worth checking out.

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D'oh! You're right, Hans. I had forgotten about that, but now that you point it out I do remember looking at it before. Tom has a wealth of cool and useful stuff on-line!

[Josh]

"For the scale of world maps (unless they are going to be huge) the readily available data already mentioned are fine"

I'm looking to make a wall size map....A BIG wall with the highest resolution shaded relief possible.

[Hans van der Maarel]

How big is big?

And, more importantly, from what distance will it be viewed? Wall maps are generally viewed from a distance of several feet, in which case you can often get away with using a lower resolution.

CleanTopo2 is listed as 10,800 x 5,400 pixels. At 300dpi that would be 36x18 inches. Go down to 150dpi and you'll have 72x36 inches.

NaturalEarth at full resolution is 32400x16200 pixels. 'Print the world 5.5 meters- (18 feet-) wide at 150 DPI', as Tom says

[ESRI Doc]

Yeah, geotorrent is a great resource.

And what would be do without the contributions of Tommy P?

doc

[BEAVER]

I don't know anyone who views a wall map from several feet. Maybe if you are talking about something really big that is meant to be viewed from the distance, like in the museum where there is barrier to prevent you from getting too close. Or maybe a poster type of map somewhere on the building that has vary little detail. Most people walk up to a wall map within one foot. I always watch other people when the view maps to see what they are looking for and how they read the map. I would say 95% will touch the map with their finger by pointing to something. We had some glass incased maps at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and the glass had to be cleaned every day from the hundreds of finger prints. We had plenty of wall maps at my work walls and those are always view from less then a foot and for that printing anything in less than 300dpi looks really bad. The Catskill Map I did that was 8 feet wide was 29,500 pixels wide and at that resolution, you could see some spots being pixalized.

[Hans van der Maarel]

I don't know anyone who views a wall map from several feet.

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Students sitting in the back of the classroom...

[BEAVER]

Perfect example. They are forced to view it from the distance. Plus most kids are not into maps and those that are, will end up on this forum in few years. I'm talking about general public with a wall map displayed in general public place. Here in the Catskills and Adirondacks there is planty of wall maps in the kiosks and those are always viewed up close.