Mapping Toolbox

usgsdem

Read USGS 1-Degree (3-arc-sec resolution) DEM data

Syntax

• [map,maplegend] = usgsdem(filename,scalefactor)
  [map,maplegend] = usgsdem(filename,scalefactor,latlim,lonlim)
  

Background

The U.S. Geological Survey has made available a set of digital elevation maps of 1-degree quadrangles covering the contiguous United States, Hawaii, and limited portions of Alaska. The data is on a regular grid with a spacing of 30 arc-seconds (or about 100-meter resolution). 1-degree DEMs are also referred to as 3-arc-second or 1:250,000 scale DEM data.

The data is derived from the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency's DTED-1 digital elevation model, which itself was derived from cartographic and photographic sources. The cartographic sources were maps from the 7.5-minute through 1-degree series (1:24,000 scale through 1:250,000 scale).

Description

[map,maplegend] = usgsdem(filename,scalefactor) reads the specified file and returns the data in a regular matrix map. The data can be read at full resolution (scalefactor = 1), or can be downsampled by the scalefactor. A scalefactor of 3 returns every third point, giving 1/3 of the full resolution.

[map,maplegend] = usgsdem(filename,scalefactor,latlim,lonlim) reads data within the latitude and longitude limits. These limits are two-element vectors with the minimum and maximum values specified in units of degrees.

Remarks

The grid for the digital elevation maps is based on the 1984 World Geodetic System (WGS84). Older DEMs were based on WGS72. Elevations are in meters relative to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) in the continental U.S. and local mean sea level in Hawaii.

The absolute horizontal accuracy of the DEMs is 130 meters, while the absolute vertical accuracy is ±30 meters. The relative horizontal and vertical accuracy is not specified, but is probably much better than the absolute accuracy.

These DEMs have a grid spacing of 3 arc-seconds in both the latitude and longitude directions. The exception is DEM data in Alaska, where latitudes between 50 and 70 degrees North have grid spacings of 6 arc-seconds, and latitudes greater than 70 degrees North have grid spacings of 9 arc-seconds.

Statistical data in the files is not returned.

The DEMs are available over the Internet from:

• ftp://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/DEM/250/
  

The files are available sorted by state or can be selected from an index map at:

• http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/doc/edchome/ndcdb/2MIL/2milmap.html
  

Some documentation for the datasets is available at:

• http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/glis/hyper/guide/1_dgr_dem
  

Examples

Read every fifth point in the file containing part of Rhode Island and Cape Cod:

• [map,maplegend] = usgsdem('providence-e',5);
  

Read the elevation data for Martha's Vineyard at full resolution:

• [map,maplegend] = usgsdem('providence-e',1,...
      [41.2952 41.4826],[-70.8429 -70.4392]);
  whos map
    Name      Size         Bytes  Class
  
    map     226x485       876880  double array
  

See Also

usgs24kdem	Read elevation data from 1:24,000 USGS DEM files
gtopo30	Read elevation data from GTOPO30
etopo5	Read data from the ETOPO5 dataset
tbase	Read data from the TerrainBase dataset
usgsdems	Read USGS digital elevation map file names

References

See reference [7] in the Bibliography located at the end of this chapter.

usgs24kdem

usgsdems