CompuServe Messages

Well, I've heard that VRLI has released a CD of some kind that contains zillions of DEMs, and I've also heard that the USGS is entering the 20th Century and may release on CD instead of 9-track tape. Since these DEMs are public data, and the only barrier entry cost has been the relatively high cost of the USGS's 9-tracks and the subsequent transfer of media to more PC-friendly forms, I'm sure we'll soon enjoy more DEMs in usable forms in the future. I'd like my company to be part of this. The raw DEM data is, well, raw. There's places where the DEMs don't match from quadrant to quadrant in elevation, and the sheer bulk of 258 x 258 data points makes them unwieldy on even souped-up PCs. One key factor will be data reduction techniques that retain a certain amount of detail, yet compress the bulk of the data to useful levels. In essence, this is what Vista does: it manages a lot of data points in a very specific way with a very specific result.