By

Love, Matthew RÌý1Ìý;ÌýEakins, Barry WÌý2Ìý;ÌýCaldwell, Jason RÌý3

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2Ìý°ä±õ¸é·¡³§/±·³Ò¶Ù°ä
3ÌýÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder

ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ scientists at NGDC have created tested and reviewed a new Digital Elevation Model (DEM) development methodology to build companion structured and unstructured DEMs from the same source elevation data-sets. Modeling and mapping of coastal processes (e.g. tsunamis, hurricane storm-surge, and sea-level rise) requires digital representations of Earth’s solid surface, referred to as DEMs. Some modeling utilizes structured, square-cell DEMs, while others would benefit from unstructured DEMs that have no regular cell size or pattern. Usually, these different DEM types are developed independently, even though they are built from the same source bathymetric and topographic data-sets. The methodology of developing companion structured and unstructured DEMs from the same source data-sets will improve the availability and production of unstructured DEMs.