On RPC model of satellite imagery

The RPC model has recently raised considerable interest in the photogrammetry and remote sensing community. The RPC is a generalized sensor model that is capable of achieving high approximation accuracy. Unfortunately, the computation of the parameters of RPC model is subject to the initial of the parameter in all available liteature. An algorithm for computation of parameters of RPC model without initial value is presented and tested on SPOT-5, CBERS-2, ERS-1 imageries. RPC model is suitable for both push-broom and SAR imagery.     

On RPC model of satellite imagery

IntroductionThe rational polynomial coefficient ( RPC)model is a generalized sensor model that is usedas an alternative solution for the rigorous sensormodel for IKONOS of the spacei maging. As thenumber of sensors increases along with greatercomplexity ,…     

Accuracy assessment of high resolution satellite imagery orientation by leave-one-out method

Interest in high-resolution satellite imagery (HRSI) is spreading in several application fields, at both scientific and commercial levels. Fundamental and critical goals for the geometric use of this kind of imagery are their orientation and orthorectification, processes able to georeference the imagery and correct the geometric deformations they undergo during acquisition. In order to exploit the actual potentialities of orthorectified imagery in Geomatics applications, the definition of a methodology to assess the spatial accuracy achievable from oriented imagery is a crucial topic.In this paper we want to propose a new method for accuracy assessment based on the Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation (LOOCV), a model validation method already applied in different fields such as machine learning, bioinformatics and generally in any other field requiring an evaluation of the performance of a learning algorithm (e.g. in geostatistics), but never applied to HRSI orientation accuracy assessment.The proposed method exhibits interesting features which are able to overcome the most remarkable drawbacks involved by the commonly used method (Hold-Out Validation — HOV), based on the partitioning of the known ground points in two sets: the first is used in the orientation–orthorectification model (GCPs — Ground Control Points) and the second is used to validate the model itself (CPs — Check Points). In fact the HOV is generally not reliable and it is not applicable when a low number of ground points is available.To test the proposed method we implemented a new routine that performs the LOOCV in the software SISAR, developed by the Geodesy and Geomatics Team at the Sapienza University of Rome to perform the rigorous orientation of HRSI; this routine was tested on some EROS-A and QuickBird images. Moreover, these images were also oriented using the world recognized commercial software OrthoEngine v. 10 (included in the Geomatica suite by PCI), manually performing the LOOCV since only the HOV is implemented.The software comparison guaranteed about the overall correctness and good performances of the SISAR model, whereas the results showed the good features of the LOOCV method.     

多条带WorldView卫星图像几何定位精度分析

本文针对多个条带WorldView卫星图像,研究了基于有理函数模型的附加参数区域网平差方法,对高分辨率卫星图像定位精度进行了详细分析。青海地区WorldView卫星图像试验结果表明:无地面控制点时,多条带整体区域网定位结果优于各个条带单独平差结果,区域网平差方法结果优于直接前方交会方法;有地面控制点时,多条带区域网平差结果与各个条带单独平差结果相当,且沿路线不大于10km布设一个地面控制点,其精度可满足1∶2000比例尺加密精度要求,可用于公路初步设计。     

基于中间件的高分辨率卫星影像正射纠正的分布式处理

当前摄影测量系统软件正向分布式并行处理方向发展,目前大家研究比较多的是在高性能计算机系统(如刀片机)下进行并行数据处理,而研究普通PC机集群分布式并行处理数据则相对比较少。因此本文在多PC机环境下按照分布式处理思想提出了一种对高分辨率卫星影像进行正射纠正的基于中间件模式的分布式并行处理系统,着重叙述了该系统的组成以及任务调度中的相关处理等问题,并在实践中验证了它的可行性。     

The georeferencing of RASAT satellite imagery and some practical approaches to increase the georeferencing accuracy

RASAT Earth Observation Satellite is the second remote sensing satellite of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Space Technologies Search Institute (TUBITAK Space). Generally, the first step to utilize the satellite imagery in GIS applications is the accurate geometric correction of the imagery. But, the geometric correction process of RASAT images is somewhat difficult due to insufficient orbit data and lack of satellite imagery processing software with RASAT model. Although the geolocation of RASAT images is investigated in some recent studies, subpixel accuracies cannot be achieved. In this study, different geometric correction methods and combination of them are tested with a more interactive workflow that uses the results of other approaches. Results show that these approaches can be used for the geometric correction of RASAT like pushbroom satellite images with insufficient orbit data and better geolocation accuracies can be achieved by different geometric correction approaches.     

Pinpointing source of Mekong and measuring its length through analysis of satellite imagery and field investigations

For centuries, explorers and scientists from different countries had made their own conclusions on the source of the Mekong. However, the geographic source of the Mekong is still arguable because of the complexity of the Mekong source water system, inaccessible environment and the varied technologies used by those explorers and scientists. The satellite remote sensing technology has been used to pinpoint the source of the Mekong, associated with the on-the-spot investigations made by the authors in June 1999 and September 2002. The actual length of the Mekong has also been calculated.     

集群环境下星载线阵相机成像光线追踪模拟

为了精确模拟卫星的成像效果,服务于卫星指标参数论证以及地面系统设计,该文在分析常用卫星模拟方法的基础上,基于多核SMP集群架构,选择利用光线追踪原理,同时依据星载TDI-CCD线阵相机的特有成像模型,通过使用时间-空间积分方法对卫星成像过程进行模拟,得到了高分辨率的星载线阵相机模拟影像。实验结果表明该方法能有效地模拟卫星遥感影像的成像过程,其模拟影像数据可以应用于遥感成像卫星前期指标论证设计中。     

A combined image matching method for Chinese optical satellite imagery

Image matching is one of the key technologies for digital Earth. This paper presents a combined image matching method for Chinese satellite images. This method includes the following four steps: (1) a modified Wallis-type filter is proposed to determine parameters adaptively while avoiding over-enhancement; (2) a mismatch detection procedure based on a global-local strategy is introduced to remove outliers generated by the Scale-invariant feature transform algorithm, and geometric orientation with bundle block adjustment is employed to compensate for the systematic errors of the position and attitude observations; (3) we design a novel similarity measure (distance, angle and the Normalized Cross-Correlation similarities, DANCC) which considers geometric similarity and textural similarity; and (4) we introduce a hierarchical matching strategy to refine the matching result level by level. Four typical image pairs acquired from Mapping Satellite-1, ZY-1 02C, ZY-3 and GeoEye-1, respectively, are used for experimental analysis. A comparison with the two current main matching algorithms for satellite imagery confirms that the proposed method is capable of producing reliable and accurate matching results on different terrains from not only Chinese satellite images, but also foreign satellite images.     

缺少控制点的卫星遥感对地目标定位

从单线阵推扫式传感器的成像机理出发,利用6个卫星轨道开普勒参数和3个传感器姿态角建立了推扫式卫星遥感影像坐标与其地面点在地心坐标系下的坐标关系式,即构像方程。按照所建立的构像方程,对某地区一景SPOT-5影像进行对地目标定位,获得了实地上83.392m的平面精度;利用单个地面控制点对卫星轨道开普勒参数和传感器姿态实施调整后,目标定位精度提高到14.217m。试验证实,所建立的构像方程是正确的,在卫星遥感对地目标定位中有较好的应用前景。     

提高卫星三线阵CCD影像空中三角测量精度及摄影测量覆盖效能

利用数字模拟方法,进一步探讨了类似MOMS-02参数的卫星三线阵CCD影像单航线、航线首末4角隅设一个控制点(以下简写为单航线4控点)的空中三角测量高程精度低的问题。研究得出,宽高比特别小(1:9)只是原因之一,更主要的因素还在于平差整过程数学关系带有近似性(包括EFP法和定向片法)。提出了改善精度的措施,并拟订了提高卫星三线阵CCD影像空中三角测量精度及摄影测量覆盖效能的系统。模拟计算表明,航线长度可以≥2B,在有外方位元素或无外方位元素少量控制点条件下,不论二线交会区,还是三线交会区均可达到高程精度为6m的摄影测量成果。     

Precision rectification of high resolution satellite imagery without ephemeris data

The huge capability of high resolution satellite imageries (HRSI), that includes spatial, spectral, temporal and radiometric resolutions as well as stereoscopic vision introduces them as a powerful new source for the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and GIS communities. High resolution data increases the need for higher accuracy of data modeling. The satellite orbit, position, attitude angles and interior orientation parameters have to be adjusted in the geometrical model to achieve optimal accuracy with the use of a minimum number of Ground Control Points (GCPs). But most high resolution satellite vendors do not intend to publish their sensor models and ephemeris data. There is consequently a need for a range of alternative, practical approaches for extracting accurate 2D and 3D terrain information from HRSI. The flexibility and good accuracy of the alternative models demonstrated with KFA-1000 and the well-known SPOT level 1A images. A block of eight KFA-1000 space photos in two strips with 60% longitudinal overlap and 15% lateral sidelap and SPOT image with rational function, DLT, 2D projective, polynomials, affine, conformal, multiquadric and finite element methods were used in the test. The test areas cover parts of South and West of Iran. Considering the quality of GCPs, the best result was found with the DLT method with a RMSE of 8.44 m for the KFA-1000 space photos.     

An improved geopositioning model of QuickBird high resolution satellite imagery by compensating spatial correlated errors

A lot of studies have been done for correcting the systematic biases of high resolution satellite images (HRSI), which is a fundamental work in the geometric orientation and the geopositioning of HRSI. All the existing bias-corrected models eliminate the biases in the images by expressing the biases as a function of some deterministic parameters (i.e. shift, drift, or affine transformation models), which is indeed effective for most of the commercial high resolution satellite imagery (i.e. IKONOS, GeoEye-1, WorldView-1/2) except for QuickBird. Studies found that QuickBird is the only one that needs more than a simple shift model to absorb the strong residual systematic errors. To further improve the image geopositioning of QuickBird image, in this paper, we introduce space correlated errors (SCEs) and model them as signals in the bias-corrected rational function model (RFM) and estimate the SCEs at the ground control points (GCPs) together with the bias-corrected parameters using least squares collocation. With these estimated SCEs at GCPs, we then predict the SCEs at the unknown points according to their stochastic correlation with SCEs at the GCPs. Finally, we carry out geopositioning for these unknown points after compensating both the biases and the SCEs. The performance of our improved geopositioning model is demonstrated with a stereo pair of QuickBird cross-track images in the Shanghai urban area. The results show that the SCEs exist in HRSI and the presented geopositioning model exhibits a significant improvement, larger than 20% in both latitude and height directions and about 2.8% in longitude direction, in geopositioning accuracy compared to the common used affine transformation model (ATM), which is not taking SCEs into account. The statistical results also show that our improved geopositioning model is superior to the ATM and the second polynomial model (SPM) in both accuracy and reliability for the geopositioning of HRSI.     

核线影像生成过程中的大图像分块问题

讨论了核线影像生成过程中的大图像分块处理问题 ,给出了按条分块的策略及其有关问题的解决方法。研究成果对其它应用中的大图像分块处理也具有一定的参考价值     

Mapping post-fire forest regeneration and vegetation recovery using a combination of very high spatial resolution and hyperspectral satellite imagery

Careful evaluation of forest regeneration and vegetation recovery after a fire event provides vital information useful in land management. The use of remotely sensed data is considered to be especially suitable for monitoring ecosystem dynamics after fire. The aim of this work was to map post-fire forest regeneration and vegetation recovery on the Mediterranean island of Thasos by using a combination of very high spatial (VHS) resolution (QuickBird) and hyperspectral (EO-1 Hyperion) imagery and by employing object-based image analysis. More specifically, the work focused on (1) the separation and mapping of three major post-fire classes (forest regeneration, other vegetation recovery, unburned vegetation) existing within the fire perimeter, and (2) the differentiation and mapping of the two main forest regeneration classes, namely, Pinus brutia regeneration, and Pinus nigra regeneration. The data used in this study consisted of satellite images and field observations of homogeneous regenerated and revegetated areas. The methodology followed two main steps: a three-level image segmentation, and, a classification of the segmented images. The process resulted in the separation of classes related to the aforementioned objectives. The overall accuracy assessment revealed very promising results (approximately 83.7% overall accuracy, with a Kappa Index of Agreement of 0.79). The achieved accuracy was 8% higher when compared to the results reported in a previous work in which only the EO-1 Hyperion image was employed in order to map the same classes. Some classification confusions involving the classes of P. brutia regeneration and P. nigra regeneration were observed. This could be attributed to the absence of large and dense homogeneous areas of regenerated pine trees in the study area.     

Fully constrained linear spectral unmixing based global shadow compensation for high resolution satellite imagery of urban areas

Shadows commonly exist in high resolution satellite imagery, particularly in urban areas, which is a combined effect of low sun elevation, off-nadir viewing angle, and high-rise buildings. The presence of shadows can negatively affect image processing, including land cover classification, mapping, and object recognition due to the reduction or even total loss of spectral information in shadows. The compensation of spectral information in shadows is thus one of the most important preprocessing steps for the interpretation and exploitation of high resolution satellite imagery in urban areas. In this study, we propose a new approach for global shadow compensation through the utilization of fully constrained linear spectral unmixing. The basic assumption of the proposed method is that the construction of the spectral scatter plot in shadows is analogues to that in non-shadow areas within a two-dimension spectral mixing space. In order to ensure the continuity of land covers, a smooth operator is further used to refine the restored shadow pixels on the edge of non-shadow and shadow areas. The proposed method is validated using the WorldView-2 multispectral imagery collected from downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In comparison with the existing linear-correlation correction method, the proposed method produced the compensated shadows with higher quality.     

Problems of bias in mapping linear landforms from satellite imagery

Remotely sensed images are an important data source for the mapping of glacial landforms and the reconstruction of past glacial environments. However the results produced can differ depending on a wide range of factors related to the type of sensors used and the characteristics of the landforms being mapped. This paper uses a range of satellite imagery to explore the three main sources of variation in the mapped results: relative size, azimuth biasing and landform signal strength. Recommendations include the use of imagery illuminated with low solar elevation, although an awareness of the selective bias introduced by solar azimuth is necessary. Landsat ETM+ imagery meets the requirements for glacial landform mapping and is the recommended data source. However users may well have to consider alternative data in the form of SPOT, Landsat TM or Landsat MSS images. Digital elevation models should also be considered a valuable data source.     

线阵CCD卫星影像外方位元素求解的研究

线阵CCD技术已广泛应用于高分辨率卫星遥感影像,但其外方位元素的强相关性使得法方程出现病态,难以得到稳定的解。本文在基于严密成像模型的基础上,采用SPOT卫星影像对几种常见的去相关方法进行了比较,并在谱修正迭代法的基础上,提出了一种新的去相关方法。根据谱修正迭代法中法矩阵的特征,对初始值乘以一个系数,不仅没有改变原有的无偏性质,而且使其对初值的依赖程度大大的降低。分析与试验结果表明,这种改进是有效的。     

Object detection in remote sensing imagery using a discriminatively trained mixture model

Automatically detecting objects with complex appearance and arbitrary orientations in remote sensing imagery (RSI) is a big challenge. To explore a possible solution to the problem, this paper develops an object detection framework using a discriminatively trained mixture model. It is mainly composed of two stages: model training and object detection. In the model training stage, multi-scale histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) feature pyramids of all training samples are constructed. A mixture of multi-scale deformable part-based models is then trained for each object category by training a latent Support Vector Machine (SVM), where each part-based model is composed of a coarse root filter, a set of higher resolution part filters, and a set of deformation models. In the object detection stage, given a test imagery, its multi-scale HOG feature pyramid is firstly constructed. Then, object detection is performed by computing and thresholding the response of the mixture model. The quantitative comparisons with state-of-the-art approaches on two datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed framework.