The recent publication of the ASTER GDEM (30m) is a great step towards a worldwide high resolution elevation model. We have done some test in the Southern Alps around Trento which is among the most complex terrains in Europe. The scope was to calculate a difference map to the local high resolution DEM.
(click for higher resolution or download slides as PDF)
The hydrological pattern appears to coincide with the provincial rivers map. It can be seen that lakes weren't masked during the ASTER DEM preparation, howver, these could be identified for many areas in the world with OpenStreetMap layers.
Despite spikes (including unexpected craters), the overall quality appears to be acceptable for this first version of ASTER GDEM - the standard deviation is 18m for the test area with outliers predominantely found in the areas of complex terrain rather than in the valley floors. A shift of -2.3m is also observed (reprojection artifact?). It will be worth to check if SRTM data (90m) could help to identify and remove the spikes from the DEM.