ASTER topography

Steps to import ASTER GDEM tiles in GRASS:

# save downloaded zip files in one directory
# enter in directory and unzip files at once
unzip "*.zip"

# create WGS84 location, import elevation (=dem) and quality (=num) tiles in PERMANENT mapset
for GDEM in *.tif ; do
  r.in.gdal in=$GDEM out=`basename ${GDEM} .tif`
done

# match region to extent of imported gdem tiles
g.region rast=`g.mlist pat=AST*dem sep=,` -p

# patch tiles in one map
r.patch in=`g.mlist pat=AST*dem sep=,` out=aster_gdem

# assign colors
r.colors aster_gdem color=terrain

Note: working on color rules that replicate NASA's "GDEM press colorized topo" published at "Mission News"