TanDEM-X Global Digital Elevation Model

Global Coverage - Unique Accuracy - Unprecedented Quality

TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X radar satellites in space

The TanDEM-X mission will generate a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of unprecedented quality, accuracy, and coverage.

This homogenous elevation model will be available for the Earth’s entire land surface, i.e. 150 million square kilometres in 2014.

Unique Quality Features

TanDEM-X Digital Elevation Model of Teide Volcano on Teneriffe Island, Spain © DLR

The accuracy of this global DEM will surpass that of any satellite-based elevation model available today and have the following unique feature:

Vertical accuracy: 2m (relative) / 10m (absolute)
12m x 12m raster
Global homogeneity
Highly consistent dataset thanks to data collection within 2.5 years only
No ground control information needed thanks to high geometric precision of sensors
Final manual editing secures international quality standards

Numerous Applications Benefiting from this New Product

TanDEM-X Digital Elevation Model of Volcano Tunupa and the edges of the salt lake "Salar de Uyuni" in Bolivia. © DLR

Customers from private industry and public authorities alike are eagerly awaiting the TanDEM-X DEM.
Cartographic authorities of countries around the globe are looking forward to increasing the precision of height information within standard cartographic maps thanks to this more accurate and up-to-date data source.
Other business and professional areas benefiting from the TanDEM-X DEM will be numerous:

Management of oil and gas ﬁelds
Improved crisis intervention planning
Prediction of impact of emergency situations
A more targeted preparation of defence and security related missions

Global Coverage Available in 2014

TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X circle the Earth as a satellite formation at distances down to a few hundred metres, and record data synchronously for the global Digital Elevation Model (DEM).

The two sensors acquire data absolutely reliably, as they operate independent of cloud coverage and lighting conditions. The worldwide homogeneous acquisition guarantees a global DEM with no breaklines at regional or national borders and no heterogeneities caused by differing measurement procedures or data collection campaigns staggered in time.

Astrium Services will refine the DEM according to customer requirements, e.g. editing of water surfaces or processing to a Digital Terrain Model (representing the bare Earth’s terrain). Individual solutions can be designed for specific application requirements.

TanDEM-X Global Digital Elevation Model

Unique Quality Features

Numerous Applications Benefiting from this New Product

Global Coverage Available in 2014

GEO-Information Services -

TECHNICAL INFORMATION