National and Regional Scale Dems Created from Airborne Insar

The objective of this paper is to provide an update on a program to create a single uniform DEM (Digital Elevation Model) for Western Europe and for the USA over the next two years. This program is referred to as NEXTMap and utilizes airborne InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology. In this paper the technology and the platforms with which this program is to be accomplished will be summarized. Some details on the operational implementation and current status will be provided. Moreover it will be placed it in context with other programs such as the SRTM, the planned Tandem-X mission and with other technologies such as airborne lidar.