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Evaluation of Digital Elevation Models created from different satellite images

Dr. K.S.Siva Subramanian, Amitabh Singh, Manda Sudhakar
RMSI Private Limited, A - 7 Sector 16, NOIDA 201 301, India
Tel +91 120 251 1102, 251 2101, Fax +91 120 251 1109, 251 0963


Introduction
Creating Digital Elevation Model (DEM) by digitizing contour lines from topographic maps or through stereoscopic semi automated methods from aerial photographs are proven methods. However, DEM generation from satellite stereo image pairs of optical and microwave sensors, is still not a common practice. The DEM generated from satellite stereo pairs have some significant advantages over other sources, viz:
  1. World wide availability of satellite data without any restriction (often available as archived data) as against restricted and non availability of topographical maps and aerial photographs
  2. Large area coverage per scene
  3. Moderately high resolution
  4. Faster processing through sophisticated software and little manual effort
  5. Low processing cost
  6. All weather and day/night image acquisition capabilities (in case of microwave sensors)
Scope
The present work has been undertaken:
  1. In order to evaluate the possibility of using satellite DEMs as an alternative source to conventional methods
  2. To assess the accuracies of such DEM’s using different input GCP (Ground Control Points) sources, like different scale paper maps, USGS DEM etc. The different satellite images used for this study include:

    • IRS 1C
    • SPOT
    • ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) VNIR bands
    • Radarsat 1, standard beam mode data (SGF)
Methodology

Inputs details


* ASTER satellite generates an along track stereo pair where, one image is captured in Nadir view and the other is captured 4 seconds later by a backward looking camera by viewing the same geographic area as seen by the Nadir view camera
** These satellites use across track viewing to generate a stereo pair, i.e., the same geographic area is viewed from two different tracks by tilting the cameras

Software used
  • PCI Geometica OrthoEngine v8.2 and
  • Erdas Imagine v8.4
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