Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis
Precise measurements of the Earth’s surface are possible using satellite laser altimetry data, as demonstrated by NASA’s ICEsat-2 mission. Recently, the vertical accuracy of ICESat-2 data has been validated to <3 cm (bias) and <15 cm RMSE, making these data a prime candidate for a global refer...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/7/1159 |
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| author | Amy Neuenschwander Eric Guenther Lori Magruder Jonathan Sipps |
| author_facet | Amy Neuenschwander Eric Guenther Lori Magruder Jonathan Sipps |
| author_sort | Amy Neuenschwander |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Precise measurements of the Earth’s surface are possible using satellite laser altimetry data, as demonstrated by NASA’s ICEsat-2 mission. Recently, the vertical accuracy of ICESat-2 data has been validated to <3 cm (bias) and <15 cm RMSE, making these data a prime candidate for a global reference system. This research will demonstrate a methodology and results for the creation of a network of global, geodetic reference points based on ICESat-2 altimetry crossover heights. In this study, we explore the feasibility of utilizing ICESat-2 terrain heights at crossover locations and we look to evaluate the results from the different beam combinations (i.e., strong–strong, weak–weak, and weak–strong) as well as the impact of acquisition time, land cover, and presence of snow on the results. Comparisons of high-quality ICESat-2 crossovers against airborne lidar data serving as reference were found to have a mean error of less than 15 cm for each AOR examined and RMSE of less than 35 cm for two of the three sites; a RMSE value of 85 cm was obtained for the third site. Preliminary results indicate ICESat-2 crossovers are possible even in forested regions and these data can be used to vertically constrain terrain heights of other data products such as DEMs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3a5fbd3ca124f19b45ddab15501c367 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3a5fbd3ca124f19b45ddab15501c3672025-08-20T02:15:41ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-03-01177115910.3390/rs17071159Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover AnalysisAmy Neuenschwander0Eric Guenther1Lori Magruder2Jonathan Sipps3Center for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78759, USACenter for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78759, USACenter for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78759, USACenter for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78759, USAPrecise measurements of the Earth’s surface are possible using satellite laser altimetry data, as demonstrated by NASA’s ICEsat-2 mission. Recently, the vertical accuracy of ICESat-2 data has been validated to <3 cm (bias) and <15 cm RMSE, making these data a prime candidate for a global reference system. This research will demonstrate a methodology and results for the creation of a network of global, geodetic reference points based on ICESat-2 altimetry crossover heights. In this study, we explore the feasibility of utilizing ICESat-2 terrain heights at crossover locations and we look to evaluate the results from the different beam combinations (i.e., strong–strong, weak–weak, and weak–strong) as well as the impact of acquisition time, land cover, and presence of snow on the results. Comparisons of high-quality ICESat-2 crossovers against airborne lidar data serving as reference were found to have a mean error of less than 15 cm for each AOR examined and RMSE of less than 35 cm for two of the three sites; a RMSE value of 85 cm was obtained for the third site. Preliminary results indicate ICESat-2 crossovers are possible even in forested regions and these data can be used to vertically constrain terrain heights of other data products such as DEMs.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/7/1159icesat-2crossoverterraingeodetic heights |
| spellingShingle | Amy Neuenschwander Eric Guenther Lori Magruder Jonathan Sipps Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis Remote Sensing icesat-2 crossover terrain geodetic heights |
| title | Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis |
| title_full | Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis |
| title_short | Creation of ICESat-2 Footprint Level Global Geodetic Control Points Using Crossover Analysis |
| title_sort | creation of icesat 2 footprint level global geodetic control points using crossover analysis |
| topic | icesat-2 crossover terrain geodetic heights |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/7/1159 |
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