A Proposal for Generation of Digital Elevation Models in Korea

National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) in Korea, through National Geographic Information System (NGIS) Program, has prepared to generate and disseminate digital elevation data for Korea. This is a pilot research to propose a policy for generation, maintenance, and supply of Korea Digital Elevation Data (KDED). Customer demands for accuracy and resolution of DEM was surveyed through questionnaire. In order to investigate the quality, the technical efficiency and the production cost, a tentative DEM in a small test site was generated based on digital topographic maps (original paper map scale 1 :5,000), analytical plotter, and LIDAR. Accuracy standard for KDED was derived based on source data and generation methods. As results of this research, we recommend uniformly spaced grid model for KDED. Its preferable grid space is 5m in urban and its vicinity; and 10m in field and mountainous area. LIDAR has been valuated as a proper KDED generation method fulfilling customers demand for the accuracy.