Digital elevation model of Mecca Hills, California, around the San Andreas Fault
Data files
Sep 24, 2026 version files 49.79 GB
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originaldem.zip
47.83 GB
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README.md
2.08 KB
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resampleddem.zip
1.96 GB
Abstract
This dataset contains a digital elevation model built from top-down aerial photos taken by a drone in an area of 12 km by 2 km around the San Andreas Fault at Mecca Hills, California. The resolution of the dataset is 0.06 m/pixel. The data values represent elevation in meters. Null data points were set to have values of -32767. In addition to the original dataset, there is also a processed digital elevation model with 0.24 m/pixel resolution. It was down-sampled from the original dataset by taking the average of 4x4 pixels and merging to one new pixel (0.24 m/pixel). There were some areas in the resampled dataset which have been applied a moving average filter or taken out of the dataset to remove erratic noises. The dataset was used to infer hillslope-scale rock mass strength based on Culmann's slope stability model in the fault zone. It can be used for other geoscientific studies requiring topographic data.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61qx
Description of the data and file structure
A digital elevation model was built from top-down aerial photos taken by a drone in an area of 12 km by 2 km around the San Andreas Fault at Mecca Hills, California. The flight path was programmed to systematically cover the entire study area in parallel lines. Photos were taken at equal distance intervals, ensuring a 60% side overlap and 80% front overlap. Ground control points were set up and their locations were measured with GNSS receivers to geo-reference the data. The photos were processed using a photogrammetry software (Agisoft Metashape) to produce the GPS-rectified digital elevation model with a 0.06 m/pixel resolution. The digital elevation model is then down-sampled by taking the average of 4x4 pixels and merging to one new pixel (0.24 m/pixel). There were some areas in the resampled dataset which have been applied a moving average filter or taken out of the dataset to reduce erratic noises.
Null data points were set to have values of -32767.
Files and variables
File: resampleddem.zip
Description: The resampled and filtered digital elevation model at 0.24 m/pixel resolution, broken up by regions to reduce file size.
File: originaldem.zip
Description: The original digital elevation model at 0.06 m/pixel resolution, broken up by regions to reduce file size.
Map key
With up being north, the individual region files are spatially arranged like this:
0-0 1-0 2-0
0-1 1-1 2-1
0-2 1-2 2-2 3-2
( - ) 1-3 2-3 3-3 4-3 5-3
( - ) ( - ) 2-4 3-4 4-4 5-4 6-4
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) 4-5 5-5 6-5
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) 4-6 5-6 6-6
Code/software
The .tif files can be imported to QGIS for viewing.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- N/A
Data was derived from the following sources:
- N/A