Georeferencing Accuracy Assessment of Pléiades 1A Images Using Rational Function Model

Abstract. This paper presents the first experience of georeferencing accuracy analysis of Pléiades 1A mono images. The Pléiades Constellation has been founded by CNES (The Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales – National Centre for Space Studies) consisting of Pléiades 1A&1B, following the previous five sisters of SPOT series. CNES also organized a Pléiades Users Group following a world-wide invitation. The images investigated in this research were received as one of the member of this Group. A stereo-pair was evaluated on Zonguldak test field where the topography is mountainous and undulating overlapping urban, rural and forest landscapes. As a first experience, totally 22 ground control points (GCPs) already existing were marked on the images, and the bias compensated Rational Function Model (RFM) was carried out reaching ±0.8 pixel at the GCPs. The overall georeferencing accuracy was performed by the figure condition analysis (FCA), a new concept successfully applied to IKONOS, OrbView-3 and QuickBird images of the same test field. The range of figure condition is between ±0.3–2.7 pixels. These results were compared with the other images of three sensors mentioned above. Although a special GCP survey by GNSS has not been performed yet, these first results are satisfied for the highly accurate georeferencing of the Pléiades 1A images.