NASA/Japan release extra detailed topo maps.

[Locut0s]

Probably not interesting to many but I always find these data sets to be neat. This is a new release of global Digital Elevation Model data for most of the earth. This data is much more detailed than what was available before and coveres a lot more area.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-320&cid=release_2011-320

Back when I was playing around with 3D modelling I downloaded some DEM data and converted it into a polygonal mesh that I used to render various scenes. This data should be a lot better than that stuff. Anyway the data explorer available here allows you to explore the globe and define arbitrary areas to download as DEM files. Neat. Though the app is VERY slow.

http://demex.cr.usgs.gov/DEMEX/

 

[Lithium381]

finally!! this was something i was going to try myself, but it'll be easier if they do it

 

[Locut0s]

finally!! this was something i was going to try myself, but it'll be easier if they do it

What uses do you have for the data?

 

[IronWing]

Looks like in takes horizontal resolution from 120m down to 70m. I still want LiDAR everywhere but this is good.

Edit: The USGS website says it's 70m horizontal resolution but the Japanese site says 15m resolution. So either the Japanese got better stuff or the UGGS is being its usual hyper-conservative self.

 

[Locut0s]

Looks like in takes horizontal resolution from 120m down to 70m. I still want LiDAR everywhere but this is good.

Edit: The USGS website says it's 70m horizontal resolution but the Japanese site says 15m resolution. So either the Japanese got better stuff or the UGGS is being its usual hyper-conservative self.

Or maybe it's both. 15m res in some areas 70m max for the rest?