Nine global positioning system (GPS) benchmarks of
known elevation (Mann & Freymueller, 2003) were used to
assess the accuracy of the two DEMs (Table 2). The heights of
these ground-truth points range from about 50 to about 1300
m (Table 2). Not surprisingly, we find that the SRTM heights
better match the true elevations as represented by the GPS
data than those of the NED. The height differences between
GPS and NED or SRTM are independent of elevation. Since
the height difference between GPS and NED (7.2F7.4) is
less than the stated accuracy of the NED DEM (15 m) (Gesch,
1994), we are able to confirm that, at least for these nine GPS
points, the USGS NED DEM is within its stated accuracy of
15 m. However, as the NED DEM was produced from both
contour and photogrammetric data, it is likely that accuracy
over the top and the upper flank of Westdahl Volcano is less
than the stated accuracy because these areas are covered by
permanent snow or glaciers