The SRTM data "finishing" process and products

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) successfully acquired terrain elevation data for 80 percent of the Earth's landmass in February 2000. The radar system and data collection scheme designed by NASA's jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) met the global requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense for Level 2 Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED (R)). JPL processed the raw data into unfinished DTED (R) 2 and other products that were delivered to two contractors of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The contractors edited the unfinished DTED (R) 2, updated the associated products, and generated finished products for distribution. Automated processes were developed by each contractor to identify, delineate and set heights for lakes, rivers, and ocean coastlines in conformance with an extensive set of editing rules created to maintain consistency and uniformity in the final products. The finished DTED (R) is significantly better than the 16 m vertical accuracy required by the original specification.