Topographical Mapping from Stereo Satellite Data - Preliminary Findings

Abstract

The advent of high resolution Charged-Coupled-Device (CCD) and steerable capability of sensor on board the SPOT satellite provides necessary geometry for the restitution of 3-D vision requirements from its overlapping scenes acquired from the east and west orbit. Unlike the perspective geometry of conventional aerial photography, CCD sensor produces dynamic digital images which can be restituted digitally by auto-stereocorrelation technique. This paper reports the preliminary assessment of 3-dimensional mapping using SPOT-1 PLA data. Results of the test area covering 13km2 north and Kualal Lumpur revealed an accuracy with a standard deviation of 38.7m in planimetry and 18.6m in height. Refinement of ground control point framework and the algorithms adopted in this study is suggested to obtain the required accuracy for producing topographical maps. Due to the limitations in the system, it is suggested to restrict the area of work to consist only one particular terrain in order to achieve the goal.