This paper presents an error analysis for the airborne direct georeferencing technique, where integrated GPS/IMU positioning and navigation systems are used in conjunction with aerial cameras for airborne mapping. The technical specifications for the Applanix POS/AV TM family of airborne positioning and attitude determination systems are used in this study. Two cases are discussed herein, namely the standard stereo model case and the single photo case. The first example is based upon standard map production - where the aerotriangulation step is ultimately bypassed when using the direct exterior orientation information, measured by the POS/AV TM systems during image data acquisition. The second case is not as widely used, yet provides a more economical alternative. In this example, single photos are processed together with the available DEMs to produce orthorectified quads/images. The effect of exterior orientation parameter accuracy on the ground point positioning accuracy is discussed in some detail. In addition to the theoretical analysis, an error breakdown is performed to an airborne set of data where the POS/AV TM 510 system was used to directly georeference or to aid the georeferencing of the aerial frame imagery. Finally, a comparison between the theoretical and practical investigations is presented. The results show that the use of POS/AV enables a variety of mapping products to be generated from airborne navigation and imagery data using ground control only for Q/A purposes.

Digital imagery from satellites or multispectral and hyperspectral scanners is well accepted. Tremendous challenges are inherent in the development of a digital sensor to acquire imagery suitable for both high precision photogrammetric mapping and image processing for interpretative purposes. The performance of the film aerial camera is almost impossible to reach with current digital technology. Joint development work by LH Systems and Deutsches Zentrum fur Luftund Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Centre, DLR) has led to considerable success using forward-, nadirand backward-looking linear arrays on the focal plane to provide panchromatic imagery and geometric information, supplemented by further arrays for multispectral data. This has culminated in the ADS40 product. In the paper, all essential components of the ADS40 are addressed: optics, filters, CCD type and configuration, frontend electronics, computer, flight management and sensor control software, mass memory, and attitude and position measurement system. The imagery from the new sensor will fulfil many market requirements between the highest resolution film imagery (<0.15 m) and high-resolution space imagery (1-10 m). The sensor’s unique blend of multispectral information with high quality geometric information will give rise to numerous new applications.

Digital imagery from satellites or multispectral and hyperspectral scanners is well accepted. Tremendous challenges are inherent in the development of a digital sensor to acquire imagery suitable for both high precision photogrammetric mapping and image processing for interpretative purposes. The performance of the film aerial camera is almost impossible to reach with current digital technology. Joint development work by LH Systems and Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Centre, DLR) has led to considerable success using forward-, nadir- and backward-looking linear arrays on the focal plane to provide panchromatic imagery and geometric information, supplemented by further arrays for multispectral data. This has culminated in the ADS40 product. In the paper, all essential components of the ADS40 are addressed: optics, filters, CCD type and configuration, front- end electronics, computer, flight management and sensor control software, mass memory, and attitude and position measurement system. The imagery from the new sensor will fulfil many market requirements between the highest resolution film imagery (<0.15 m) and high-resolution space imagery (1-10 m). The sensor's unique blend of multispectral information with high quality geometric information will give rise to numerous new applications.

As part of the development of a real-time JR target processor test bed, a number of image processing algorithms were developed, simulated in software, and evaluated for implementation. Algorithms performing image pre-processing, target localization, segmentation and target/clutter discrimination were evaluated using an IR image data base. The algorithms selected are being implemented on the test bed using commercially available board-level components, and are capable of pmcessing imagery at real-time rates (30 frames/see).© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.