EarthSLOT

Each of the applications found in the Fly Now! page accesses one of these earth models. This page describes the data sources for those earth models, and provides a convenient link to check the differences between them. So if you are interested in thematically-organized content, visit the Fly Now! page; if you are interested in seeing the differences between the earth models used in them, stay here. Practically speaking, this page only describes those models created by us using Skyline's TerraBuilder, as the other engines typically use only a single model which is described on their own pages (to which we provide links below). Essentially, these are the raw materials that you have to work with when creating Applications, but they are also examples of the types of Earth Models that can be created with new data.

EarthSLOT Global Earth Models
These are models that we created using Skyline's TerraBuilder. They are considered global models that cover the entire planet to distinguish them from planar models (below) which are essentially floating rectangles of data that cover only a limited area.
EarthSLOT TBP
This is our most detailed earth model, which is used in most of our applications. Click here to fly around this model now. click for larger image (910x700 60kb) Global Ocean Surface Imagery Source : NASA Blue Marble 2000 Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m Source URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/ Global Land Surface Imagery Source: USGS Landsat7 GeoCover2000 Spatial Resolution: 15 m - ETM+ bands 742 pan-sharpened using band 8 Source URL: NASA GeoCover2000 at Stennis Space Center https://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/ Global Land Cover Facility at UMD http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.shtml Antarctica Low Resolution Imagery Source: Radarsat Antarctic Mapping Project Data - NSIDC Spatial Resolution 125 m Source URL: http://nsidc.org/data/ramp Antarctica High Resolution Imagery Source: USGS Atlas of Antarctic Research Spatial Resolution: varies, see additional information Source URL: http://usarc.usgs.gov/antarctic_atlas Additional Information: USGS provided us with a 30 m DEM of the McMurdo Dry Valley area, as well as a declassified 10 m satellite image. In addition we obtained some 2 m and some 4 m posting LIDAR data of individual glaciers in the area. Aerial Imagery - Denver, Colorado Source: Skyline Software Systems Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 0.15 m - natural color Source URL: http://www.skylinesoft.com/ Additional Information: This data was provided to us by Skyline Software Systems Inc. as part of a project collaboration. Aerial Imagery - Boston, Massachusetts Source: Skyline Software Systems Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 0.15 m - natural color Source URL: http://www.skylinesoft.com/ Additional Information: This data was provided to us by Skyline Software Systems Inc. as part of a project collaboration. Aerial Imagery - San Francisco, California Source: USGS Spatial Resolution: 0.60 m - natural color Source URL: http://seamless.usgs.gov Aerial Imagery - Washington, DC Source: USGS Spatial Resolution 0.30 m - 1 m (multiple data sets) - natural color and color infrared Source URL: http://seamless.usgs.gov Aerial Imagery - Greenbelt, Maryland Source: USGS Spatial Resolution: 0.75 m - natural color Source URL: http://seamless.usgs.gov Aerial Imagery - National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska Source: Alaska BLM Spatial Resolution: 2.5 m - color infrared Source URL: http://www.ak.blm.gov Aerial Imagery - Minnesota Source: Minnesota Land Management Information Center – NAIP Spatial Resolution: 1 m - natural color Source URL: http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/ Additional Information: This data covers most of Minnesota, but is not continious. Satellite Imagery - Barrow, Alaska Source: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Spatial Resolution: 2.8 m - natural color, Quickbird Source URL: http://instaar.colorado.edu/ Satellite Imagery - Fairbanks, Alaska Source: Fairbanks North Star Borough GIS Spatial Resolution: 0.7 m - natural color, Quickbird Source URL: http://gis.co.fairbanks.ak.us/ Satellite Imagery - Lake Elgygytgyn, Russia Source: NASA Scientific Data Purchase Program Spatial Resolution: 1 m - natural color, Ikonos Source URL: http://www.esa.ssc.nasa.gov/datapurchase/ Pan-Sharpened GeoCover 2000 Imagery Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution 2.5 m - ORRI, see additional comments Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: Through Intermap we were able to obtain multiple high resolution Star3i (sensor) DEM data sets for Alaska and one site in Colorado. These DEM data were delivered with matching OrthoRectified Radar Images (ORRI). ORRI data is single band data that we then used to pan-sharpen the GeoCover 2000 data. This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Global Elevation Data Set Source: NASA BlueMarble 2004 Spatial Resolution: 500 m Source URL: TBA Additional Information: This data was given to us by the NASA BlueMarble 2004 work group. It consists of processed SRTM data, as well as GTOPO30 data for the areas that were not covered by SRTM. Elevation Data - Alaska Source: USGS National Elevation Dataset Spatial Resolution: 3 arc second Source URL: http://seamless.usgs.gov Additional Information: This data is the best publically available data for the state of Alaska. Elevation Data - Alaska Mountain Passes Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: The following mountain passes are covered in this data set: Anaktuvuk Pass, Atigun Pass, Bagley Ice Field, Chickaloon Pass, Isabel Pass, Lake Clark Pass, Mentasta Pass, Merrill Pass, Portage Pass, Rainy Pass, Thompson Pass, Windy Pass. This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Elevation Data - Barrow, Alaska Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Elevation Data - Fairbanks, Alaska Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Elevation Data - National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Elevation Data - Kuparuk River Basin & Put River Basin, Alaska Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Elevation Data - Pinion Canyon Manouver Site, Colorado Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: This Star3i FLY file illustrates the areas in EarthSLOT that are covered by Star3i DEM and ORRI data. Elevation Data - Lake Elgygytgyn, Russia Source: Infoterra Global (formerly Eastmap) Spatial Resolution: 25 m Source URL: http://www.infoterra-global.com/ Additional Information: DEM created from Russian military topo maps. Elevation Data - San Francisco, CA - Denver, CO - Washington, DC - Greenbelt, MD Source: USGS National Elevation Dataset Spatial Resolution: 1/3 arc second Source URL: http://seamless.usgs.gov Elevation Data - British Isles Source: USGS Global SRTM Spatial Resolution: 3 arc second Source URL: http://seamless.usgs.gov Elevation Data - Arctic Ocean, High Resolution, East-Northeast of Barrow Source: Joint Office for Science Support / UCAR Spatial Resolution: 60 m Source URL: http://www.joss.ucar.edu/
Blue Marble 2000
click for larger image (910x700 50kb) The original Blue Marble. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery Data Source : NASA Blue Marble 2000 Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m Source URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/ Elevation Data Origin: USGS - GTOPO30 Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m URL: http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/gtopo30/gtopo30.asp
Blue Marble Next Generation
This is a set of 12 cloud free MODIS mosaics created at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The elevation data consists of processed SRTM data, as well as GTOPO30 data for the areas that were not covered by SRTM. Global Imagery Data Source: NASA Blue Marble 2004 Spatial Resolution: 500 m Source: http://bluemarble.nasa.gov Global Elevation Data Set Source: NASA BlueMarble 2004 Spatial Resolution: 500 m Source URL: http://bluemarble.nasa.gov
Alaska Geospatial Climate Animations
click for larger image (910x700 60kb) click for larger image (910x700 63kb) These MPTs have model output of temperature and precipitation of Alaska draped over terrain. Click here to fly over the air temperature data. Global Imagery Data Source : NASA Blue Marble 2000 Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m Source URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/ Alaska Imagery Data Source: William Manley, INSTAAR, University of Colorado Spatial Resolution: 250 m - model output Source URL: http://instaar.colorado.edu/ Global Elevation Data Elevation Data Origin: USGS - GTOPO30 Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m URL: http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/gtopo30/gtopo30.asp
Circum-Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM)
Global Imagery Data Source: NASA Blue Marble 2004 June Image Spatial Resolution: 500 m Source: http://bluemarble.nasa.gov Seward Peninsula (Alaska) Imagery Data Source: Alaska Geobotany Center Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m Source URL: http://www.geobotany.uaf.edu/cavm/ Global Elevation Data Set Source: NASA BlueMarble 2004 Spatial Resolution: 500 m Source URL: TBA Additional Information: http://bluemarble.nasa.gov
Central America
click for larger image (910x700 56kb) Contains a lot of high resolution satellite imagery used in support of NASA's SERVIR project. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: NASA SERVIR Spatial Resolution: 15 m and better Source URL: http://servir.nsstc.nasa.gov/visualizations/skyline.html
SRTM GTOPO 30 Shaded
click for larger image (910x700 62kb) A shaded relief MPT of the entire globe. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: NASA Blue Marble Next Generation http://bluemarble.nasa.gov Spatial Resolution: 500 m Additional Information: The shaded relief image was created at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from the elevation data provided by the Blue Marble work group.
EarthSLOT Planar Earth Models
These are earth models that are not global in nature; rather they are rectangles of data floating in space. We typically create them to save disk space (making them easily portable) or to highlight an area of interest.
Circum-Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM)
Imagery Data Source: Alaska Geobotany Center Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m Source URL: http://www.geobotany.uaf.edu/cavm/ Elevation Data Source: Alaska Geobotany Center Spatial Resolution: 1,000 m Source URL: http://www.geobotany.uaf.edu/cavm/
International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO)
click for larger image (910x700 72kb) click for larger image (910x700 67kb) Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean – MGG/NGDC/NOAA Spatial Resolution: 2,500 m Source URL: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/bathymetry/arctic/arctic.html Additional Information: The imagery layer was created at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from the elevation data provided.
Alaska - Kuparuk - C4
click for larger image (910x700 145kb) Shows off the power of high resolution elevation data in a very flat area of Alaska. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information:
Alaska - Isabel Pass
click for larger image (910x700 108kb) Shows off the power of high resolution elevation data in a mountainous region of Alaska. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information:
Alaska - Upper Kuparuk River Basin
click for larger image (910x700 84kb) A nice blend of Landsat sharpened with radar backscatter draped over high resolution terrain. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information:
Alaska - Put River Basin
click for larger image (910x700 111kb) A really low-relief watershed in Arctic Alaska. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information:
Alaska - Toolik Lake Field Station GIS
click for larger image (910x700 73kb) click for larger image (910x700 55kb) Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: Toolik Field Station GIS, Andrew Balser Spatial Resolution: varies between 1,000 m and 1 m Source URL: http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/maps/index.htm
Colorado - Pinion Canyon Manouver Site
click for larger image (910x700 234kb) Drapes soil moisture output derived from InSAR over high resolution elevation data. Click here to fly over this model. Imagery & Elevation Data Source: Intermap Technologies Incorporated Spatial Resolution: 10 m Source URL: http://www.intermap.com Additional Information: http://www.uaf.edu/water/faculty/nolan/drmatt_soilmoisture.htm
Google Earth Model
Click here to fly over this model. click for larger image (910x780 32kb) Google's Earth Model contains the most high resolution imagery of any model here, particularly of urban areas. You can find a graphical illustration of their data sources here, where you will also find a pdf with further information. As of 09/29/05 there is contradicting information as to how Google Earth (GE) represents the world. Many on the Community BBS note that GE is using a perfect sphere as globe model. The official GE web site states that "As Google Earth currently uses WGS84 datum projection". When enabling some of the data layers that are delivered with GE, or when connecting WMS-served WGS84 data to GE, one can clearly see gross misalignment between the data layers and the underlying imagery. While co-registration errors can have many causes, it is likely that GE does indeed NOT use WGS84 as their Earth model. GE does not support planar models. There are no indications that GE plans to include planar model support in the future.
World Wind Earth Model
click for larger image (790x790 24kb) World Wind primarily uses the original Blue Marble and the Landsat 7 Geocover 2000 data; you can read more about this here. NASA's World Wind uses the WGS84 earth model. Interestingly enough, considering that World Wind doesn't contain a re-projection engine, it seems that some of the data served on World Wind is in NAD83. In practical terms many argue that NAD83 equals WGS84. Data that is served through World Wind via WMS tends to line up well with the underlying imagery. World Wind does not support planar Earth models. There are no indications that World Wind plans to include planar model support in the future. However, since the entire World Wind source code is open source, those with the appropriate skills could add planar model support if they so desire.

EarthSLOT Global Earth Models

EarthSLOT Planar Earth Models

Google Earth Model

World Wind Earth Model