Mapping Flood Inundation in Auckland Using Sentinel-1 SAR Data

During a lockdown in 2022, our CEO and senior geospatial scientist embarked on a 400 km walk around Cornwall Park in Auckland, New Zealand, using an iPhone 13 to capture GPS positions every 3 seconds. This resulted in over 100,000 spot heights, covering a wide range of locations within the park. The goal of the project was to create a detailed digital elevation model (DEM) of the park and compare it with the 2013 LiDAR data obtained by Auckland Council. The resulting DEM showcased an impressive representation of the park's land surface. Variations were observed, with accurate results in open areas, underestimation in hilly regions, and overestimation in areas with tree canopy. The project was deemed successful, and it also provided an opportunity for our CEO to cover a significant distance. The accompanying image illustrates the output of the project.