SMALL SCALE MAPPING OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH THE USE OF SRTM AND MODIS DATA

Jacek DRACHAL

ABSTRACT: The paper describes a research project on the application of the SRTM and MODIS data for small scale mapping. These freely-distributed data allow for making valuable general maps at scale 1:1milion. At this scale hill shading images based on a 3 arc second resolution elevation model of SRTM give quite impressive views of the landscape, particularly when hilly or mountainous. Hill shading images can be mixed with realistic views of the ground from space collected by the MODIS system to produce as a result a kind of photorealistic image of the area. This kind of depiction of landforms on the ground seems both revealing and educative which gave the reason for making a map of Central Europe at scale of 1:1 000 000. A fragment of the map including the Carpathian Mountains is presented in the paper. The paper describes also different methods of mixing images especially the ways of controlling shares of each image in a composition.

Keywords: SRTM, MODIS, maps, hill shading, methods.

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