Evaluation of approaches for AWiFS multi-date registration

AWiFS onboard IRS-P6 belongs to the category of high-repetivity sensors based on large swath, but with ground trace based on narrow-swath sensor (LISS-III). This is useful for cloud removal as well as vegetation phenology studies. Such multi-date analysis has a prerequisite of accurate multi-date registration. This study investigates the accuracy of multi-date registration over a mixed plain and hilly terrain in northern India (29–31°N latitude and 77.5–79.5°E longitude; 200–4000 m.a.s.l.). Simple polynomial rectification, multi-date registration using ortho-correction technique on standard product (level-2) and radiometric product (level-1) as a function of number of ground control points (GCPs) and external Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were investigated. The results indicated that ortho-rectification on level-1 product provided better accuracy in comparison to simple rectification and ortho-rectification on level-2 product.