[tppiotrowski]

As someone who has researched DSM availability across the globe, Google's Solar API is a top contender. Other option is government LiDAR surveys but the coverage, file formats, projections, etc are all fragmented. I think it would be great for the mapping community to create a world wide DSM map tile dataset similar to the ground elevation tile dataset that contour lines and 3D terrain views are generated from. Maybe someone is already working on this?

In the article they show areas where their approach can generate DSM although this is just the potential areas and not the areas where data is already available. :(

[morbicer]

Does DSM stand for Digital Surface Model?

Thos exact abbreviation is so overloaded that it doesn't hurt to list the words once.

[tppiotrowski]

Yes. There are planet wide DEM (Digital Elevation Model) datasets which record ground level elevations but no planet wide set for DSM which includes built structures and vegetation.