Digital Terrain Elevation Data Processing at the Defense Mapping Agency.

The Terrain Edit SystemElevation Matrix Processing System TESEMPS is a stand along system which employs a combination of batch and interactive processes to perform coordinate transformations and interpolations, contour to grid processing, data merging and paneling operations, plotting, and interactive edit and quality control functions to produce elevation matrices in the final data base format. The TESEMPS relies heavily on advanced raster graphics workstations for the generation of vector and array displays to support the aforementioned processes. As more user applications for elevation matrices surface, the demand for greater quantity and quality of these matrices will continue to increase. This paper addresses one area the TESEMPS in which advanced computer graphics, interactive processing and batch processing are combined in a networked data processing environment to support growing production demands. The paper briefly discusses elevation matrix formats and collection systems, then discusses all phases of digital terrain elevation matrix post processing, data flows and the digital data display techniques employed to interactively evaluate and manipulate data, and stresses the importance of utilizing a variety of tools in an interactive environment to ensure the quality of elevation matrix products.