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Assistance Request: Efficient Global Coverage Using ASTER DEM V004 Granules

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2025 5:10 pm America/New_York
by robdrake
Hello,
I am currently working on a global elevation mapping project and am utilizing the ASTER Digital Elevation Model V004 data product. My objective is to compile a global elevation dataset. However, for the purposes of my analysis, I only require one granule per geographic location—essentially, the minimum number of granules necessary to achieve maximum global coverage.

Here are the details of my access attempt:

URL Accessed:
https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/search/granules?p=C3306855744-LPCLOUD&pg[0][v]=f&pg[0][gsk]=-start_date&q=C3306855744-LPCLOUD

Date and Time of Access:
October 30, 2025

Research Type:
Global elevation mapping

Data Product:
ASTER Digital Elevation Model V004

Access Method:
Browser (Microsoft Edge, configured to accept cookies) and occasionally via curl

Curl Version:
curl 8.13.0 (Windows)

Platform and OS:
PC running Windows 10

Given the vast temporal and spatial extent of the ASTER DEM V004 dataset, I am seeking advice on how to efficiently retrieve a representative subset of granules that ensures complete global coverage with minimal redundancy. Is there a recommended strategy, tool, or query method within Earthdata Search or another NASA service that can help identify and download only one granule per unique location?

Any guidance or best practices on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Re: Assistance Request: Efficient Global Coverage Using ASTER DEM V004 Granules

Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2025 3:59 pm America/New_York
by LP DAAC - jwilson
@robdrake Thank you for your question. ASTER Version 4 products are made available by the LP DAAC through the NASA Earthdata Search user interface and programmatically via NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR).

The LP DAAC will no longer provide on-demand products, and users will be directed to access the final static Version 4 collections. At this time the data access is only through Earthdata Search.

Additional documents and resources: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/catalog/lpcloud-ast14dem-004#documents-and-resources

For further information, please visit our Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Version 4 Product User Guide at: https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/documents/2243/ASTER_User_Guide_V4.pdf

Thank you,
Janice