3D Product Quality Control in the CO3D Mission: A Critical Role

Abstract. We present the qualification of 3D products as part of the CO3D mission. This mission aims at generating a global Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the Earth’s landmass. Massive automatic production is a challenge in itself as the ground segment delivers more advanced data than those typically generated by optical missions. Unlike conventional workflows, where 3D products are often manually refined and validated, leading to substantial costs, the CO3D mission relies on a fully automated processing chain. Masks will also be included to describe the processing history and provide precise information on the altitudes restored. All of this data requires a comprehensive qualification approach with accurate reference datasets and dedicated evaluation methods in order to properly assess product quality. The paper describes all the tools, the qualification methods and reference data used, and provides an overview of the performance achieved by these new CO3D products.