Getting DEM from ASTER (~30m resolution) + importing it into ArcMap +

georeferencing an image on top (e.g. satellite image, geological map)

Step 1: getting the data from ASTER
Basic information + tutorials can be found there:
https://wist.echo.nasa.gov/~wist/api/imswelcome/

To get the data, go there:
https://wist.echo.nasa.gov/wist-bin/api/ims.cgi?mode=MAINSRCH&JS=1
You have to create an account.
In the different categories below, select ASTER into the Land section. Then, select the
following dataset: ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V001.

In Choose search area, enter the coordinates of the 4 corners of the area of interest. The
zone appears on the little globe (you can zoom in, x125 is usually the most appropriate).

Then Start Search. Note: page loading can sometimes be slow.
Select the tiles (or granules shown) and add them to the cart.
Click on Search at the top of the page to repeat the operation if you need to look for other
tiles (the items are saved in the cart).

When finished, select order options. Select the relevant category (e.g. Water) and tick the
boxes to acknowledge that you have read:
I agree to redistribute the ASTER GDEM *only* to individuals within my organization or
project of intended use or in response to disasters in support of the GEO Disaster Theme.
When presenting or publishing ASTER GDEM data, I agree to include "ASTER GDEM is a
product of METI and NASA."
Apply these options to all products in the cart Next step = step 2: order form.
Fill in the different fields (they are saved for future use) Step 3: order summary. Then step
4 = place order and wait for the e-mails!

To download the data using a Unix machine (example: adder.geos.ed.ac.uk), follow the
instructions given in the e-mail:
- navigate to the folder where you will store the files.
- ftp e4ftl01.cr.usgs.gov
- enter login name anonymous and use your e-mail address as password.
- bin (to set mode to binary).
- cd /PullDir/0302185647tZNqKb (name of directory given in e-mail).
- dir (to check that the files are there).
- prompt off (so that the computer doesnt ask you every time if you want to
download each file).
- mget *.* (to download all the files,).
Then quit and logout.

Step 2: getting the DEM into ArcMap
Data Management Tools Raster Raster Dataset Mosaic to new Raster select the
different TIFF tiles from ASTER (after unzipping the zip file). If you specify the coordinate
during this step, you will end up with artefacts because you cannot specify here the
resampling technique. You will specify the coordinate system later.

Once the mosaic operation has been performed, you can choose the coordinate system. You
need to choose a projected system to have coordinates in meters: Data Management Tools
Projections and Transformations Raster Project Raster.
Specify the input raster, then click on the button next to the output coordinate system box.
These are two popular options:
1- Select Projected Coordinates Systems Continental
- North America Lambert Conformal Conic.prj (for North America)
- Canada Lambert Conformal Conic.prj (for Canada)
- Europe Lambert Conformal Conic.prj (for Europe).
In this case, ArcMap will also require the Geographic Transformation. I usually use the
first one on the list because I dont really know what the numbers at the end of the
transformations are. The result doesnt seem to be strongly influenced by this choice (if
you have any suggestions with respect to this matter, please let me know).
2- Select Projected Coordinates Systems UTM WGS1984 Select the suitable
zone, according to the table at the end of this handout.

Specify the Resampling Technique as CUBIC click OK.

Next steps:
- save the project and close ArcMap.
- reopen an empty ArcMap and import the transformed raster (using the Add Data
button) so that the coordinates are displayed within the new coordinate system.
- In Data Management Tools Raster Clip the zone of interest.

Step 3: getting the satellite image georeferenced on top of the topo
Go in the zone of interest with Google map and take a screenshot. In IrfanView (or other
visualisation software), paste the screenshot and save it as a JPG. Select the area of interest
with the mouse and crop it (Edit crop selection), then save it.
In ArcMap, use the Add Data button and select the JPG file (dont double-click or it will just
show the different layers that compose the JPG file).
Make sure the Georeferencing toolbar is displayed. In the Georeferencing toolbar, use the
scroll down menu to have the jpg file appearing in the layer box. Then, click on the
Georeferencing button Fit to display.
In the Georeferencing toolbar, click on the button with the green and red crosses (make sure
that the active layer in the toolbar is still the JPG image). Using this tool: click on one of the
noticeable points on the JPG image (e.g. river confluence, cliff) and double click on the
corresponding point on the DEM (you can hide the JPG image in the middle of the operation).
The image will be translated/rotated/distorted to make the location fit (note:
translation/rotation/distortion can be performed manually using the buttons in the
Georeferencing toolbar). Repeat the operation for a few points. Note: it is easier to do this
once the fluvial network has been traced. If you are happy with the result, click on the
Georeferencing button Update Georeferencing. If you want to remove one or more points,
click on the link table button just to the right of the red/green cross button: an editable table
with all the tie points will appear.

Step 4: visualizing the results in 3D in ArcScene
Open ArcScene (note: you can explore the different buttons in the toolbar).
Use the Add Data button to add the DEM. Double click on the layer in the layer window
Base Heights Obtain heights from surface (select the DEM if it is not selected). You can
use the Z unit conversion to enhance relief (1 is no vertical exaggeration).
Add data add the jpg file which has been georeferenced. Do the same operation than above
but make sure that the DEM file is selected as the Base Heights.
Hide the DEM layer you should now see the landscape in 3D (like in Google Earth!). If
you want to keep the satellite image wrapped onto the DEM, you will have to do a couple of
operations to make sure that it is displayed above the DEM:
- in the Base Heights tab, you can offset the image by a few meters (see Offset at
the bottom of the window), OR
- in the Rendering tab, you can select the drawing priority of the layer (see Effect
option, 1 is high priority, 5 is low).
Possible additions (so that it is better than Google Earth!): you can add catchments, fluvial
networks, slope map, etc.

M. Attal, Nov. 2010 (thank you Simon!)
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