THE USE OF EXISTING GLOBAL ELEVATION DATASET FOR ABSOLUTE ORIENTATION OF HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE WITHOUT GCPS

Abstract. For precise mapping using high resolution satellite images, various ways to eliminate the need of ground control points have been proposed. DEM matching, a technique to match two different surfaces by adjusting their position and attitude, is also one way of them. Our previous study demonstrated that DEM matching can be used for bias compensation of rigorous pushbroom sensor models. In this paper, we exploit the DEM matching technique further using existing global elevation dataset for absolute orientation of high resolution satellite image without ground control points. In particular, we investigated how the existing global DEM available worldwide can substitute ground control points when DEM matching is applied to linear pushbroom imagery. We used Spot-5 HRG with 2.5m ground sampling distance(GSD) as high resolution satellite images and used SRTM-derived DEMs(DTEDs) with gird spacing of 30m and 90m as existing elevation dataset. We firstly established relative orientation and generated a relative DEM without use of ground control points. DEM matching was then applied between the relative DEM and the DTED. We applied DEM matching based on linear pushbroom images. Through DEM matching, accuracy of about 2 GSD or better could be achieved with in the horizontal and in the vertical direction, respectively. We confirmed automatic DEM matching processing can be accomplished for absolute orientation of pushbroom image and as results, absolute DEM can be achieved from relative DEM. We tested the applicability of 90m existing global dataset for DEM matching. Our experimental results showed the potential of existing DEM for precise mapping without ground control points. This is very encouraging in terms of applicability of the existing global elevation data. This paper will contribute to understanding of DEM matching for linear pushbroom images and of solution to precise mapping without ground control points.