The application of GPS precise point positioning technology in aerial triangulation

In traditional GPS-supported aerotriangulation, differential GPS (DGPS) positioning technology is used to determine the 3-dimensional coordinates of the perspective centers at exposure time with an accuracy of centimeter to decimeter level. This method can significantly reduce the number of ground control points (GCPs). However, the establishment of GPS reference stations for DGPS positioning is not only labor-intensive and costly, but also increases the implementation difficulty of aerial photography. This paper proposes aerial triangulation supported with GPS precise point positioning (PPP) as a way to avoid the use of the GPS reference stations and simplify the work of aerial photography.Firstly, we present the algorithm for GPS PPP in aerial triangulation applications. Secondly, the error law of the coordinate of perspective centers determined using GPS PPP is analyzed. Thirdly, based on GPS PPP and aerial triangulation software self-developed by the authors, four sets of actual aerial images taken from surveying and mapping projects, different in both terrain and photographic scale, are given as experimental models. The four sets of actual data were taken over a flat region at a scale of 1:2500, a mountainous region at a scale of 1:3000, a high mountainous region at a scale of 1:32000 and an upland region at a scale of 1:60000 respectively. In these experiments, the GPS PPP results were compared with results obtained through DGPS positioning and traditional bundle block adjustment. In this way, the empirical positioning accuracy of GPS PPP in aerial triangulation can be estimated. Finally, the results of bundle block adjustment with airborne GPS controls from GPS PPP are analyzed in detail.The empirical results show that GPS PPP applied in aerial triangulation has a systematic error of half-meter level and a stochastic error within a few decimeters. However, if a suitable adjustment solution is adopted, the systematic error can be eliminated in GPS-supported bundle block adjustment. When four full GCPs are emplaced in the corners of the adjustment block, then the systematic error is compensated using a set of independent unknown parameters for each strip, the final result of the bundle block adjustment with airborne GPS controls from PPP is the same as that of bundle block adjustment with airborne GPS controls from DGPS. Although the accuracy of the former is a little lower than that of traditional bundle block adjustment with dense GCPs, it can still satisfy the accuracy requirement of photogrammetric point determination for topographic mapping at many scales.     

Pass processing of IRS-1C/1D PAN subscene blocks

This paper describes a method for pass processing of IRS-1C/1D imagery acquired by the three CCD arrays of the panchromatic (PAN) camera. It is based on the fact that during a single pass, the image data stream from the three CCD arrays of the PAN camera can be adjusted together as a single image, exploiting the knowledge of the internal geometry and the angular relationships between the CCD arrays. The geometry of this extended image can be rectified with a single ground control point (GCP). A full PAN scene consists of nine subscenes, each with a dimension of 23.5 km×23.5 km. The method is not restricted in the number of continuous full scenes (in the same pass) that can be adjusted. The scale variations between the images from the three detectors are corrected by computing the relative focal lengths of detectors 1 and 3 with respect to detector 2. Two tests were conducted to verify the accuracy of the adjustment procedure. Average root-mean-square (RMS) errors of ±10.5 m in the latitude direction and ±11.3 m in the longitude direction were obtained with a single surveyed GCP and a set of survey points used as checkpoints. The results of the tests show that the adjustment of full PAN scenes, as proposed in this paper, is an effective means of reducing the number of GCPs required for precise determination of ground coordinates.     

Bias-corrected rational polynomial coefficients for high accuracy geo-positioning of QuickBird stereo imagery

The rational function model (RFM) is widely used as an alternative to physical sensor models for 3D ground point determination with high-resolution satellite imagery (HRSI). However, owing to the sensor orientation bias inherent in the vendor-provided rational polynomial coefficients (RPCs), the geo-positioning accuracy obtained from these RPCs is limited. In this paper, the performances of two schemes for orientation bias correction (i.e., RPCs modification and RPCs regeneration) is presented based on one separate-orbit QuickBird stereo image pair in Shanghai, and four cases for bias correction, including shift bias correction, shift and drift bias correction, affine model bias correction and second-order polynomial bias correction, are examined. A 2-step least squares adjustment method is adopted for correction parameter estimation with a comparison with the RPC bundle adjustment method. The experiment results demonstrate that in general the accuracy of the 2-step least squares adjustment method is almost identical to that of the RPC bundle adjustment method. With the shift bias correction method and minimal 1 ground control point (GCP), the modified RPCs improve the accuracy from the original 23 m to 3 m in planimetry and 17 m to 4 m in height. With the shift and drift bias correction method, the regenerated RPCs achieve a further improved positioning accuracy of 0.6 m in planimetry and 1 m in height with minimal 2 well-distributed GCPs. The affine model bias correction yields a geo-positioning accuracy of better than 0.5 m in planimetry and 1 m in height with 3 well-positioned GCPs. Further tests with the second-order polynomial bias correction model indicate the existence of potential high-order error signals in the vendor-provided RPCs, and on condition that an adequate redundancy in GCP number is available, an accuracy of 0.4 m in planimetry and 0.8 m in height is attainable.     

高分辨率遥感影像几何纠正方法

在对某些地区的高分辨率卫星影像进行几何校正时,由于地形等因素影响难以寻找控制点,从而导致控制点较少且分布不均匀,影响了校正精度。针对这些问题,对线阵推扫式的高分辨率遥感影像的特点进行了分析,提出了利用直线这种更高级的几何特征对影像进行几何校正的方法;构建空间直线矢量,提出了基于空间直线矢量的多项式几何校正模型;并利用SPOT5高分辨率卫星影像数据对该校正模型进行精度验证。     

基于GCP库的星载SAR图像自动精校正

近年来,合成孔径雷达(SAR)技术已取得巨大进步,人们也越来越重视其潜在的应用前景。但是,雷达侧视成像性质和地形起伏的影响导致SAR图像的几何畸变非常复杂,大大影响了SAR图像的应用。几何精校正是SAR图像广泛应用的前提,但是校正过程中需要大量地面控制点(GCPs),以往的人工选点方法费时费力。本文提出了一种基于控制点自动匹配的控制点选点方法,用以提高点位精度和工作效率。该方法包括纠正区域GCP库的建立和GCP图像片的自动匹配。试验结果表明,该方法具有较好的应用价值。     

Comparison of four UAV georeferencing methods for environmental monitoring purposes focusing on the combined use with airborne and satellite remote sensing platforms

This work is aimed at the environmental remote sensing community that uses UAV optical frame imagery in combination with airborne and satellite data. Taking into account the economic costs involved and the time investment, we evaluated the fit-for-purpose accuracy of four positioning methods of UAV-acquired imagery: 1) direct georeferencing using the onboard raw GNSS (GNSSNAV) data, 2) direct georeferencing using Post-Processed Kinematic single-frequency carrier-phase without in situ ground support (PPK1), 3) direct georeferencing using Post-Processed Kinematic double-frequency carrier-phase GNSS data with in situ ground support (PPK2), and 4) indirect georeferencing using Ground Control Points (GCP). We tested a multispectral sensor and an RGB sensor, onboard multicopter platforms. Orthophotomosaics at <0.05 m spatial resolution were generated with photogrammetric software. The UAV image absolute accuracy was evaluated according to the ASPRS standards, wherein we used a set of GCPs as reference coordinates, which we surveyed with a differential GNSS static receiver. The raw onboard GNSSNAV solution yielded horizontal (radial) accuracies of RMSEr≤1.062 m and vertical accuracies of RMSEz≤4.209 m; PPK1 solution gave decimetric accuracies of RMSEr≤0.256 m and RMSEz≤0.238 m; PPK2 solution, gave centimetric accuracies of RMSEr≤0.036 m and RMSEz≤0.036 m. These results were further improved by using the GCP solution, which yielded accuracies of RMSEr≤0.023 m and RMSEz≤0.030 m. GNSSNAV solution is a fast and low-cost option that is useful for UAV imagery in combination with remote sensing products, such as Sentinel-2 satellite data. PPK1, which can register UAV imagery with remote sensing products up to 0.25 m pixel size, as WorldView-like satellite imagery, airborne lidar or orthoimagery, has a higher economic cost than the GNSSNAV solution. PPK2 is an acceptable option for registering remote sensing products of up to 0.05 m pixel size, as with other UAV images. Moreover, PPK2 can obtain accuracies that are approximate to the usual UAV pixel size (e.g. co-register in multitemporal studies), but it is more expensive than PPK1. Although indirect georeferencing can obtain the highest accuracy, it is nevertheless a time-consuming task, particularly if many GCPs have to be placed. The paper also provides the approximate cost of each solution.     

单应性几何下的后方交会直接解法

传统的后方交会最小二乘解法需要良好的外方位元素初值。在无初值或者初值不够精确的情况下,最小二乘迭代不容易收敛。在近景摄影测量或者计算机视觉等领域,往往不提供良好的初值,无法适用传统的后方交会解法。针对上述情况,本文提出了一种基于单应性矩阵的后方交会直接解法,在不需要初值的情况下,获取外方位元素的直接解。该方法根据单应性矩阵所描述的平面几何关系,利用单应性矩阵内在的约束条件,将后方交会问题转换为一个二元二次方程组的求解问题。该方法受舍入误差影响小,在无偶然误差的情况下,解算精度能达到10–9量级,能够避免传统直接解法计算复杂的问题,为传统的平差迭代解法提供良好的初值。此外,在多个控制点共面的情况下,该方法能够直接获得外方位元素的精确解。实验结果表明:在各种不同倾角拍摄的情况下,该方法均能够获得稳定的外方位元素,为后续的后方交会最小二乘算法提供良好的初值。采用本文方法计算的初值参与平差,能够达到与人工给定初值平差一致的精度,且迭代收敛速度是人工给定初值平差的2倍以上。在控制点共面的情况下,该方法的反投影精度能够达到亚像素级,且精度优于大部分主流的直接解法。     

Precise aircraft single-point positioning using GPS post-mission orbits and satellite clock corrections

Summary Aircraft single point position accuracy is assessed through a comparison of the single point coordinates with corresponding DGPS-derived coordinates. The platform utilized for this evaluation is a Naval Air Warfare Center P-3 Orion aircraft. Data was collected over a period of about 40 hours, spread over six days, off Florida's East Coast in July 94, using DGPS reference stations in Jacksonville, FL, and Warminster, PA. The analysis of results shows that the consistency between aircraft single point and DGPS coordinates obtained in single point positioning mode and DGPS mode is about 1 m (rms) in latitude and longitude, and 2 m (rms) in height, with instantaneous errors of up to a few metres due to the effect of the ionosphere on the single point L1 solutions.     

稀少控制的多平台星载SAR联合几何定标方法

几何定标采用地面控制点获取距离-多普勒模型中的精确几何参数,用于完成星载SAR影像高精度几何定位。但在广域范围内,特别是高山地区域,控制点极难获取。此外,传统定标方法仅面向单一平台SAR影像,尚不能实现多平台影像的联合几何定标。针对上述问题,本文提出一种基于稀少控制的多平台星载SAR联合几何定标方法。该方法从包含实测控制点的主影像出发,使用点位追踪算法获取主影像与从影像之间的连接点,并以连接点为桥梁逐级完成从影像的几何定标。本文采用京津冀地区南北向分布共计235 km的3景TerraSAR-X、3景TanDEM-X、5景高分三号影像进行联合几何定标试验,仅使用5个控制点即完成了所有影像的几何定标,并利用SF-3050星站差分GNSS接收机采集实测GPS点进行精度评价。结果表明使用稀少控制点定标后的TSX/TDX影像的几何定位精度优于3 m,GF-3影像的几何定位精度优于7.5 m,验证了该方法的有效性和正确性。     

ADS40推扫式数字航摄仪试验研究

ADS40是当今最先进的摄影测量系统之一,它采用推扫式三线阵获取影像,可以提供多种类型的数字影像数据。由于配备IMU/DGPS系统,在一定的基站范围内可以在无控制或少量控制点的情况下进行空三平差,极大地减轻了摄影测量外业控制工作量,缩短了生产周期,提高了作业效率。本文就ADS40的原理、数据处理流程,以及ADS40和常规摄影测量的区别,在精度等方面作了阐述和分析,并就其在我国摄影测量领域内的应用进行了展望。     

Generation and validation of DEM using SAR interferometry and differential GPS supported by multispectral optical data

Digital elevation model (DEM) and the derived terrain parameters e.g. contour, slope, aspect, drainage pattern, etc are required for natural resources management, infrastructure planning and disaster management. The present paper aims at generating DEM from ERS tandem pair using interferometric technique supported by differential GPS measurements (DGPS) and multispectral optical data. Validation of DEM has been carried out by DGPS measurements. Ground Control Points (GCP) established by DGPS measurements have been used to georeference the IRS-1D optical data that has finally been co-registered with SAR amplitude image. Optical data, co-registered with ERS - I SAR data has helped in locating the GCP’s and check points, precisely, for refinement of DEM and its validation.     

ICESat激光高程点辅助的天绘一号卫星影像立体区域网平差

无地面控制点（简称无控）区域网平差是实现卫星影像无控测图的一项重要技术,对于境外和外业测控困难区域的测图具有重要意义。然而,无控区域网平差的定位精度一般难以满足对应比例尺测图规范要求。利用公开、可稳定获取的公众地理信息数据辅助区域网平差,是提高卫星影像无控定位精度的有效途径,其中ICESat激光高程点便是一种良好的高程控制数据。为了提高天绘一号卫星影像无控定位精度,本文提出ICESat激光高程点辅助的卫星影像模型法立体区域网平差方法。首先,以30 m分辨率SRTM估算的地形坡度作为限制条件,结合激光高程点自身质量评价信息,自动提取高质量ICESat激光高程点;其次,利用自动匹配的连接点进行模型法自由网平差,实现卫星影像几何定位精度的相对一致性（内部一致性）;最后,将激光高程点自动量测至卫星影像作为控制点,其平面坐标根据自由网平差结果前方交会计算而得,高程坐标取自激光点高程,再次进行区域网平差精化定向参数,提高卫星影像的绝对高程精度。最后本文利用山东全省的天绘一号卫星影像进行试验,验证了本文方法的有效性和可行性。     

小型消费级无人机地形数据精度验证

低空遥感是近几年快速发展、应用非常广泛的新兴技术。小型消费级无人机集成可见光传感器,具有快速、灵活、高性价比等优势,受到广泛关注。然而目前有关该类无人机综合测量精度的研究不足,影响其进一步的推广应用。为此,本文开展了针对大疆(Phantom 3 professional)小型消费级无人机地形测量数据精度验证工作,设定6种航高(50 m、60 m、70 m、80 m、90 m和100 m)获取研究区的立体像对,生成影像点云(point cloud)、数字表面模型(DSM)以及数字正射影像图(DOM)等结果。在测量精度验证中,首先,在标准实验场均匀布设地面控制点(GCP),利用差分GPS测出GCP的高精度3维坐标;然后,通过GCP对立体像对进行绝对定位;最后,利用误差统计方法分析上述结果的测量精度。验证表明,在50—100m航高时,无人机影像结果的分辨率为2.22—4.23 cm,水平方向平均误差为±0.51 cm,垂直方向平均误差为±4.39 cm,相对均方根误差(RMSE)水平方向为±2.79 cm,垂直方向为±9.98 cm。研究结果表明,小型消费级无人机在飞控系统下的测量精度可达厘米级,这不仅为野外地理和生态调查工作者提供一种低成本、快速、灵活与精确获取地形信息的新型测量手段,同时还对使用此类无人机做航测应用及飞行参数设置提供一定参考。     

Application of space borne cartographic camera for thematic mapping

A remote sensing experiment ‘TERRA’ was conducted during the first Indo-Soviet joint manned space flight. Under this experiment aerial photographs of the Indian terrain were taken using fixed cameras like MKF-6 and KATE-140 and hand held cameras like Hasselblad 500 EL/M and Practika B-200. In order to find out the positional accuracy of features identifiable on TERRA photographs, an experiment was carried out photogrammetrically using a stereopair of KATE-140 photographs. Analog as well as analytical stereo-plotter were used. A simple technique of comparing the known ground coordinates of various well defined ground features identifiable both on map as well as on stereo model, with the coordinate calculated from the stereopair observation was adopted. Due to the non availability of the actual coordinates of ground details/features and limitations of identifications of such ground details, used for observation in the present study, the results obtained have indicated that the residual errors are random in nature and not systematic. The results showed that such space borne aerial photographs like KATE-140, can be used for obtaining desired cartographic accuracy for the preparation of topographical as well as other thematic maps on scale 1:250,000 and smaller.     

Estimation and improvement in the geolocation accuracy of rational polynomial coefficients with minimum GCPs using KOMPSAT-3A

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we propose a method to regenerate Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPCs) using KOMPSAT-3A imagery and to reduce the geolocation error using minimum ground control points (GCPs). To estimate the new RPCs, the physical sensor model fitted to KOMPSAT-3A imagery was utilized and virtual GCPs over the study area were created. The size of the virtual grid used was 20x20x20. To remove the sensor-related errors in physical sensor model, three different image correction models (image coordinate translation model, shift and drift model, and affine transformation model) were additionally applied. We evaluated our proposed method in two areas within Korea, one in urban (Seoul) and one in rural (Goheung) areas. The results showed that there was a significant improvement after applying the suggested approach in the two areas. The image coordinate translation model is suggested in terms of GCP requirement and expected errors estimated from the error propagation analysis using Gauss–Markov Model (GMM).     

Comparison of Planimetric and Thematic Accuracy of OrbView-3 and IKONOS Images

Spatial mapping from space using high-resolution satellite sensor data instead of conventional data collection techniques widely gained popularity. This study aims to analyze the planimetric and thematic accuracy of high-resolution OrbView-3 and IKONOS orthoimages. OrbView-3 and IKONOS images of a test area were acquired and these images were geometrically corrected using rational polynomial functions to conduct accuracy assessment. 40 Ground Control Points (GCPs) generated from static Global Positioning System (GPS) survey were used in the orthorectification procedure. 182 Test Points (TPs) produced from terrestrial surveying technique were used to analyze the accuracy of orthorectifications. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values obtained for GCPs and TPs were used to determine the planimetric accuracy of these images. Thematic accuracy analyses were conducted in radiometric and spatial base. Transects, lines and polygons were created to analyze the radiometric quality of data sets and to determine minimum distinguishable distance and distinguishable area. Both planimetric and thematic accuracy analyses illustrated that OrbView-3 and IKONOS images could be used to create 1:10000 scale map of the concerned region with appropriate planimetric and thematic quality.     

POS技术在平原地区1:10000 DLG生产中的外业控制点布设

POS(DGPS/IMU)技术能够获取航摄瞬间航片外方位元素,采用POS技术进行空三加密和DLG制作,能够节省大量的外业控制点,这对提高航测地形图生产效率,降低成本具有重要意义。本文主要研究POS技术在平原地区1:10 000地形图生产中的外业控制点布设。设计了二十三种外业控制点布设方案,采用集成传感器定向法进行空三加密试验,在实验结果的基础上选择精度符合要求的数据制作了一幅1:10 000DLG,并对其进行精度测试。通过试验和研究,提出了合适的外业控制点布设方案,为POS技术应用于大规模航测4D产品生产做好技术准备。     

Vertical accuracy evaluation of SRTM-GL1, GDEM-V2, AW3D30 and CartoDEM-V3.1 of 30-m resolution with dual frequency GNSS for lower Tapi Basin India

Abstract

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM-GL1), Advanced Space Borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer- Global DEM (GDEM-V2), recently released Advanced Land Observing Satellite (‘DAICHI’) DEM (AW3D30) and Indian National Cartosat-1 DEM v3 (CartoDEM-V3.1) provide free topographic data at a 30-m resolution for Indian peninsula. In this research study, the vertical accuracy of DEM is evaluated for above data-sets and compared with high accuracy dual frequency GNSS of a millimetre accuracy. The extensive field investigation is carried out using a stratified random fast static DGPS survey for collecting 117 high accuracy ground control points in a predominantly agriculture catchment. Further, the effect of land cover, slope and low-lying coastal zone on DEM vertical accuracy was also analysed and presented in this study.     

天绘一号03星无控定位精度改进策略

“全球连续覆盖模式”传输型摄影测量卫星系动态摄影,无控定位模式下难以达到框幅式像片定位水平.本文在天绘一号已有研究基础上,深化03星摄影测量无控定位精度改进模式的探讨研究.在相机参数在轨标定中增加对相机内方位元素的附加改正,解决相机结构宽高比(卫星条带摄影覆盖宽度与卫星轨道高度的比值)太小对主距标定结果的影响,进而削弱系统误差,提高卫星影像的平面定位精度.通过境外地区检测,无控定位精度达到高程2.4m (RMS),平面3.7m (RMS).检测结果表明,只依靠星上GNSS接收机、星敏感器,利用相机参数在境内标定结果,“全球连续覆盖模式”单航线卫星影像无控定位结果达到理论设计指标.     

Approximate approaches to geometric corrections of high resolution satellite imagery

The exploitation of different non-rigorous mathematical models as opposed to the satellite rigorous models is discussed for geometric corrections and topographic/thematic maps production of high-resolution satellite imagery (HRSI). Furthermore, this paper focuses on the effects of the number of GCPs and the terrain elevation difference within the area covered by the images on the obtained ground points accuracy. From the research, it is obviously found that non-rigorous orientation and triangulation models can be used successfully in most cases for 2D rectification and 3D ground points determination without a camera model or the satellite ephemeris data. In addition, the accuracy up to the sub-pixel level in plane and about one pixel in elevation can be achieved with a modest number of GCPs.