USGS Astrogeology Planetary Photogrammetry Lab
Jezero crater looking west
Jezero crater orthomosaic looking west
Jezero crater orthomosaic looking north
Digital Elevation Models and Orthorectified Images Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Planetary Photogrammetry Lab offers a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthorectified image production service to the scientific community to supply NASA-selected investigators with high-quality HiRISE and LROC NAC DEMs and orthorectified HiRISE and LROC NAC images. This effort replaces the “Photogrammetry Guest Facility” formerly operated by the USGS Astrogeology Science Center. This service is funded directly by NASA and is offered at no charge to NASA-selected investigations through the ROSES program.
DEM Request Requirements:
Principal Investigators who submit proposals through ROSES that include the production of a HiRISE or LROC NAC DEM by the USGS should clearly indicate this intention in the Proposal Summary, as well as in the text of the proposal. Proposers who request a USGS-produced DEM and orthorectified images for their investigation are required to include a Confirmation of Technical Specifications letter, obtained from the USGS Astrogeology Planetary Photogrammetry Lab, in their proposal. To obtain this document, Investigators shall provide to the USGS the (1) latitude/longitude center reference point of each requested DEM (2) acknowledgment of 1.0 to 2.0 meter/pixel expected resolution of the requested DEM, (3) Primary and alternate HiRISE or LROC NAC image stereopairs for each investigative site, (4) acknowledgement of equirectangular or polar stereographic (as required by latitude range of DEM) projection of the DEM products, and (5) other data as requested by the USGS. This document is only a confirmation of USGS support and does not fulfill the requirement that the investigative effort be described and justified within the body of the proposal. Selection of a proposal for funding is contingent upon the inclusion of this document.
The investigator is responsible for identification and selection of HiRISE or LROC NAC image stereopairs using the following criteria.
- Solar incidence angle between 40 and 65 degrees, up to 85 degrees in the polar regions
- Convergence angle between 7 and 40 degrees
- Solar separation (azimuth difference) less than 40 degrees
- Stereo overlap greater than 30%
- Targeted HiRISE or LROC NAC stereopairs
The HiRISE mission team maintains a list of targeted stereo observations at https://www.uahirise.org/stereo/, which typically meet the above criteria. The PDS Geoscience Node also provides a map-based search of HiRISE anaglyphs, which can be used as a proxy for identifying targeted HiRISE stereopairs: https://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/mars/indexproductsearch.aspx.
LROC NAC stereopairs can be found on the LROC QuickMap site under the LROC NAC menu, "Stereo Observations" layer at https://quickmap.lroc.im-ldi.com. Additional stereopairs may be found under the LROC NAC observations in the Lunar Orbital Data Explorer, but must be targeted LROC NAC stereopairs (four images: two left and two right with consistent coverage) for appropriate coverage.
The USGS will limit the number of DEMs produced annually for each proposal to three. Exceptions to this limitation shall be considered by the USGS on a case-by-case basis and may require multi-year DEM production schedules. Investigators are encouraged to contact the USGS early in the ROSES proposal preparation process and no later than 3 weeks prior to the proposal submittal deadline as defined in the ROSES NRA. To request further information pertaining to DEM generation by the USGS, contact Astrogeology staff at planetaryphotogrammetry@usgs.gov. Include the words "DEM_REQUEST” in the email subject line.
Digital Elevation Models and Orthorectified Images Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Planetary Photogrammetry Lab offers a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthorectified image production service to the scientific community to supply NASA-selected investigators with high-quality HiRISE and LROC NAC DEMs and orthorectified HiRISE and LROC NAC images. This effort replaces the “Photogrammetry Guest Facility” formerly operated by the USGS Astrogeology Science Center. This service is funded directly by NASA and is offered at no charge to NASA-selected investigations through the ROSES program.
DEM Request Requirements:
Principal Investigators who submit proposals through ROSES that include the production of a HiRISE or LROC NAC DEM by the USGS should clearly indicate this intention in the Proposal Summary, as well as in the text of the proposal. Proposers who request a USGS-produced DEM and orthorectified images for their investigation are required to include a Confirmation of Technical Specifications letter, obtained from the USGS Astrogeology Planetary Photogrammetry Lab, in their proposal. To obtain this document, Investigators shall provide to the USGS the (1) latitude/longitude center reference point of each requested DEM (2) acknowledgment of 1.0 to 2.0 meter/pixel expected resolution of the requested DEM, (3) Primary and alternate HiRISE or LROC NAC image stereopairs for each investigative site, (4) acknowledgement of equirectangular or polar stereographic (as required by latitude range of DEM) projection of the DEM products, and (5) other data as requested by the USGS. This document is only a confirmation of USGS support and does not fulfill the requirement that the investigative effort be described and justified within the body of the proposal. Selection of a proposal for funding is contingent upon the inclusion of this document.
The investigator is responsible for identification and selection of HiRISE or LROC NAC image stereopairs using the following criteria.
- Solar incidence angle between 40 and 65 degrees, up to 85 degrees in the polar regions
- Convergence angle between 7 and 40 degrees
- Solar separation (azimuth difference) less than 40 degrees
- Stereo overlap greater than 30%
- Targeted HiRISE or LROC NAC stereopairs
The HiRISE mission team maintains a list of targeted stereo observations at https://www.uahirise.org/stereo/, which typically meet the above criteria. The PDS Geoscience Node also provides a map-based search of HiRISE anaglyphs, which can be used as a proxy for identifying targeted HiRISE stereopairs: https://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/mars/indexproductsearch.aspx.
LROC NAC stereopairs can be found on the LROC QuickMap site under the LROC NAC menu, "Stereo Observations" layer at https://quickmap.lroc.im-ldi.com. Additional stereopairs may be found under the LROC NAC observations in the Lunar Orbital Data Explorer, but must be targeted LROC NAC stereopairs (four images: two left and two right with consistent coverage) for appropriate coverage.
The USGS will limit the number of DEMs produced annually for each proposal to three. Exceptions to this limitation shall be considered by the USGS on a case-by-case basis and may require multi-year DEM production schedules. Investigators are encouraged to contact the USGS early in the ROSES proposal preparation process and no later than 3 weeks prior to the proposal submittal deadline as defined in the ROSES NRA. To request further information pertaining to DEM generation by the USGS, contact Astrogeology staff at planetaryphotogrammetry@usgs.gov. Include the words "DEM_REQUEST” in the email subject line.