Automatic registration of optical imagery with 3D LiDAR data using statistical similarity

The development of robust and accurate methods for automatic registration of optical imagery and 3D LiDAR data continues to be a challenge for a variety of applications in photogrammetry, computer vision and remote sensing. This paper proposes a new approach for the registration of optical imagery with LiDAR data based on the theory of Mutual Information (MI), which exploits the statistical dependency between same- and multi-modal datasets to achieve accurate registration. The MI-based similarity measures quantify dependencies between aerial imagery, and both LiDAR intensity data and 3D point cloud data. The needs for specific physical feature correspondences, which are not always attainable in the registration of imagery with 3D point clouds, are avoided. Current methods for registering 2D imagery to 3D point clouds are first reviewed, after which the mutual MI approach is presented. Particular attention is given to adoption of the Normalised Combined Mutual Information (NCMI) approach as a means to produce a similarity measure that exploits the inherently registered LiDAR intensity and point cloud data so as to improve the robustness of registration between optical imagery and LiDAR data. The effectiveness of local versus global similarity measures is also investigated, as are the transformation models involved in the registration process. An experimental program conducted to evaluate MI-based methods for registering aerial imagery to LiDAR data is reported and the results obtained in two areas with differing terrain and land cover, and with aerial imagery of different resolution and LiDAR data with different point density are discussed. These results demonstrate the potential of the MI and especially the CMI methods for registration of imagery and 3D point clouds, and they highlight the feasibility and robustness of the presented MI-based approach to automated registration of multi-sensor, multi-temporal and multi-resolution remote sensing data for a wide range of applications.     

Characteristics of cirrus clouds and its radiative properties based on lidar observation over Chung-Li, Taiwan

In this paper, characterization of cirrus clouds are made by using data from ground based polarization lidar and radiosonde measurements over Chung-Li (24.58°N, 121.10°E), Taiwan for a period of 1999–2006. During this period, the occurrence of cirrus clouds is about 37% of the total measurement nights over the lidar site. Analysis of the measurement gives the statistical characteristics about the macrophysical properties such as occurrence height, ambient temperature, and its geometrical thickness while the microphysical properties are interpreted in terms of extinction coefficient, optical depth, effective lidar ratio and depolarization ratio. The effective lidar ratio has been retrieved by using the simulation technique of backscattered lidar signals. The effect of multiple scattering has been taken into the account by a model calculation. Summer (Jun–Aug) shows the maximum appearances of cirrus due to its formation mechanism. It is shown that tropopause cirrus clouds may occur with a probability of about 24%. These clouds are usually optically thin and having laminar in structure with some cases resembling the characteristics similar to that of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). The radiative properties of the cirrus clouds are also discussed in detail by the empirical equations with results show a positive feedback on any climate change.     

分离式靶标摄影测量在LAMOST中的应用

为了获取LAMOST焦面板上光纤的零位位置,提出了一种基于分离式标准靶标的高精度摄影测量方法。首先,根据Tsai摄像机标定参数模型介绍了CCD相机的标定原理。然后介绍了用光重心算法求取靶标发光点像面坐标及通过球面三角公式计算靶标发光点物面坐标。接着,利用最小二乘法导出了含标定参数的方程组。最后,介绍了标准靶标的放置方法以及提高光纤位置测量精度的靶标取法。实验结果表明:CCD相机的标定残差平均值为8.8μm;标定残差的标准差为5.3μm。测量方法简单易行,通过仔细分析,找出了残差偏大的原因,对后续进一步测量实验有重要指导意义。     

Can MODIS Detect Trends in Aerosol Optical Depth over Land?

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) sensor onboard NASA's Aqua satellite has been collecting valuable data about the Earth system for more than 14 years, and one of the benefits of this is that it has made it possible to detect the long-term variation in aerosol loading across the globe. However, the long-term aerosol optical depth(AOD)trends derived from MODIS need careful validation and assessment, especially over land. Using AOD products with at least 70 months' worth of measurements collected during 2002–15 at 53 Aerosol Robotic Network(AERONET) sites over land,Mann–Kendall(MK) trends in AOD were derived and taken as the ground truth data for evaluating the corresponding results from MODIS onboard Aqua. The results showed that the AERONET AOD trends over all sites in Europe and North America, as well as most sites in Africa and Asia, can be reproduced by MODIS/Aqua. However, disagreement in AOD trends between MODIS and AERONET was found at a few sites in Australia and South America. The AOD trends calculated from AERONET instantaneous data at the MODIS overpass times were consistent with those from AERONET daily data, which suggests that the AOD trends derived from satellite measurements of 1–2 overpasses may be representative of those from daily measurements.     

Scaling-laws of Radio Spike Bursts and Their Constraints on New Solar Radio Telescopestwo

Radio observation is one of important methods in solar physics and space science. Sometimes, it is almost the sole approach to observe the physical processes such as the acceleration, emission, and propagation of non-thermal energetic particles, etc. So far, more than 100 solar radio telescopes have been built in the world, including solar radiometers, dynamic spectrometers, and radioheliographs. Some of them have been closed after the fulfillment of their primary scientific objectives, or for their malfunctions, and thus replaced by other advanced instruments. At the same time, based on some new technologies and scientific ideas, various kinds of new and much more complicated solar radio telescopes are being constructed by solar radio astronomers and space scientists, such as the American E-OVSA and the solar radio observing system under the framework of Chinese Meridian Project II, etc. When we plan to develop a new solar radio telescope, it is crucial to design the most suitable technical parameters, e.g., the observing frequency range and bandwidth, temporal resolution, frequency resolution, spatial resolution, polarization degree, and dynamic range. Then, how do we select a rational set of these parameters? The long-term observation and study revealed that a large strong solar radio burst is frequently composed of a series of small bursts with different time scales. Among them, the radio spike burst is the smallest one with the shortest lifetime, the narrowest bandwidth, and the smallest source region. Solar radio spikes are considered to be related to a single magnetic energy release process, and can be regarded as an elementary burst in solar flares. It is a basic requirement for the new solar radio telescope to observe and discriminate these solar radio spike bursts, even though the temporal and spatial scales of radio spike bursts actually vary with the observing frequency. This paper presents the scaling laws of the lifetime and bandwidth of solar radio spike bursts with respect to the observing frequency, which provide some constraints for the new solar radio telescopes, and help us to select the rational telescope parameters. Besides, we propose a spectrum-image combination mode as the best observation mode for the next-generation solar radio telescopes with high temporal, spectral, and spatial resolutions, which may have an important significance for revealing the physical essence of the various non-thermal processes in violent solar eruptions.     

载波相位差分技术在馈源舱动态定位中的应用

针对ＦＡＳＴ项目馈源舱扫描跟踪设计,作者根据ＧＰＳ载波相位差分精密动态定位原理,讨论了馈源舱位置和姿态的ＧＰ动态检测系统的组成,按照我国贵州ＫＡＲＳＴ地形的地理位置给出了动态检测时需要使用的馈源舱位姿转换矩阵和求解方程,与ＧＰＳ动态定位系统相结合就可以完成对馈源舱位姿的跟踪检测,实现舱体的闭环控制。     

关于生命起源研究的问题及其主攻方向的探讨

本文综述和分析了近几十年来国内外关于生命起源的研究的问题及各种假说和见解，提出物质的起源是生命起源问题研究的核心，生命起源问题应是研究原始地球的非生命物质如何演变成为生命物质的，地球上分子手性的起源是生命起源问题研究的主攻方向，有机分子光学活性百发生在由化学进化转入生物进化这一过渡阶段。     

四种海水透明度现场测量方法的对比分析及发展趋势研究

随着海洋探测的不断发展,海水透明度作为海水光学性质的一个重要参量,也越来越受到人们的关注。文章对比分析了4种海水透明度现场测量方法:透明度盘法~([1])、光纤式高光谱剖面测量法~([2])、激光衰减测量法~([3])和基于双光路原理的海水IOPs高光谱测量法~([4]),主要分析了4种方法的测量原理,对比各自的优缺点,并提出了海水透明度测量未来发展设想。     

ESR dating of fluvial quartz: Estimate of the minimal distance transport required for getting a maximum optical bleaching

An ESR experimental study of artificial optical bleaching of sedimentary quartz has shown that the aluminum center was maximally bleached after a 6-month illumination equivalent to natural light. This duration seems too long to apply in natural conditions. Nevertheless, the measurement of the ESR intensity of aluminum centers in quartz extracted from modern sediments and deposited in sandy bars shows that the maximum bleaching has effectively been reached.

In order to determine the relationship between the bleaching and the distance covered by a quartz grain in a river, samples were collected along the Creuse River (France) from its spring to about 170 km downstream, where maximum bleaching levels were observed in previous studies. The ESR intensities of the aluminum and titanium centers in quartz were measured, using X-band spectroscopy, before and after artificial bleaching. The difference measured between these sub-samples shows that the maximum bleaching level is obtained in the course of the first kilometer. Hence, the assumption that ESR dating of fluvial sediment is based on the optical bleaching was validated.     

RFI Test Observations at a Candidate Ska Site in China

Radio frequency interference (RFI) test observations were carried out at one of the candidate Square Kilometre Array (SKA) sites in Guizhou province, following the “RFI Measurement Protocol for Candidate SKA Sites” (hereafter RFI protocol). All data (raw and calibrated) are preserved in some suitable format, such as that set by the international RFI working group of the Site Evaluation and Selection Committee (SESC). An RFI test in December 2003 was performed according to Mode 1 of the RFI Protocol, in order to identify technical difficulties which might arise during a co-ordinated RFI measurement campaign over a period of 1 year. In this paper we describe the current equipment, observational technique and data presentation. The preliminary results demonstrate that the RFI situation at Dawodang depression in Guizhou province makes it quite a promising location for the proposed SKA. Furthermore, the first session of the RFI monitoring program, which was made in May 2004, showed that a complete RFI measurement including both modes 1 and 2 of the RFI Protocol would take about 2 weeks. The possible ways to minimize some limitations of the current equipment are also discussed, which will enable us to meet the RFI protocol.