Accuracy of SPOT digital elevation model and derivatives: utility for Alaska's North slope

SPOT (Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre) data are a valuable source of terrain information, especially for areas of the world which are not covered by large-scale topographic maps. Numerous investigators have developed algorithms to produce digital elevation models (DEMs) from SPOT and have evaluated their accuracy. This investigation not only evaluates the accuracy of a portion of a SPOT DEM but evaluates products derived from it; namely, slopes, aspects, and thickness of thaw layer. A DEM, purchased from STX corporation, was created from an image pair with less than optimum difference between image acquisition angles at a study site in northern Alaska.