An urgent case for higher resolution digital elevation models in the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries

This opinion article highlights the role of the digital elevetion models (DEM) as one of the most critical datasets in the process of understanding disaster and climate losses before they happen and providing robust analysis of the costs and benefits of preparedness, reduction, and adaptation. It talks about some of the challenges faced when working with many datasets such as resolution and accuracy. The authors mention that without access to high spatial resolution and higher accuracy DEMs, decision-makers in developing countries are forced to use hazard information for planning and preparedness that is inaccurate. It provides an example of Indonesia where the use of hazard information generated on available low-resolution DEMs is dangerously misleading.

The article points out the high value, low cost, and urgent need for accurate and high resolution datasets and explains some of the challenges developing countries face to acquire them. It remarks the need to get equally serious about collectively investing in public-good datasets, such as higher resolution digital elevation data, that are instrumental in forwarding the understanding and quantifying the impacts of climate change and disasters on coastal and riverine communities.