Mapping the Path to Digital Sensor Calibration

1
Mapping the Path toDigital Sensor Calibration

• ASPRS Photogrammetry - Part2 Digital Sensor
  Calibration Research, Policies, and Standards
• March 2005

Greg Stensaas USGS EROS stensaas_at_usgs.gov
2
History

• USGS has been calibrating aerial film cameras
  since 1973
• USGS actively involved with establishing
  requirements and standards for photo imagery for
  many years
• Film camera standards since 1950s with the
  National Bureau of Standards
• National Map Accuracy standards since the 1940s
• In 1999 ASPRS panel asked USGS to develop
  standards, policies and guidelines for the
  digital aerial mapping community
• USGS Land Remote Sensing Program has a
  cross-center project team actively working to
  answer ASPRS recommendations

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ASPRS Recommendations

1. The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should
   continue to calibrate film mapping cameras using
   the present calibrator and the Simultaneous
   Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC) program.
   
2. Initiate the design, development, and
   implementation of a digital camera calibration
   capability at the USGS (est. required investment
   - 4 M).
3. Conduct research efforts in order to support a
   reliable and cost effective transition to digital
   acquisition systems (est. required investment -
   1 M)
4. Initiate the design, development and
   implementation of an in situ (flight) calibration
   process.

4
ASPRS Recommendations

1. The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should
   continue to calibrate film mapping cameras using
   the present calibrator and the Simultaneous
   Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC) program.
   
2. Initiate the design, development, and
   implementation of a digital camera calibration
   capability at the USGS (est. required investment
   - 4 M).
3. Conduct research efforts in order to support a
   reliable and cost effective transition to digital
   acquisition systems (est. required investment -
   1 M)
4. Initiate the design, development and
   implementation of an in situ (flight) calibration
   process.

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The USGS Responds..
6
One Continue Operating OSL

• The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should
  continue to calibrate film mapping cameras using
  the present calibrator and the Simultaneous
  Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC)
  program.
• Ongoing today
• USGS has invested in upgrades and continues to do
  so
• Hardware upgrades, electronics, software
• USGS in year-long search for glass plates
• Finally identified Agfa plates that will work
• Investing in multi-year glass plate supply
• Continuing to investigate film and electronic
  alternatives
• The USGS is committed to continuing OSL
  operations for foreseeable future

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Two Three Research/Build Digital Capabilities

• Initiate the design, development, and
  implementation of a digital camera calibration
  capability at the USGS (estimated required
  investment - 4 M).
• Conduct research efforts in order to support a
  reliable and cost effective transition to digital
  acquisition systems (estimated required
  investment - 1 M)
• USGS has already invested in the following
  research capabilities
• Pictometry for Small/Medium-Format calibration
  cage
• OSU for In-Situ methodology for digital (and
  potentially film?)
• SDSU-developed MTF tools lab in-situ
• Requesting funding for additional capabilities
• Additional development validation in-situ
• Build expand USGS sensor laboratory at EDC
• Further work on MTF tool radiometry?
• (more in Future Plans Jon Christopherson
  briefing)

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Four In-Situ Calibration

• 4. Initiate the design, development and
  implementation of an in situ (flight) calibration
  process.
• USGS working with OSU, SDSU, industry,
  manufacturers to test and validate several
  different methods
• Developed in-situ ranges for independent
  validation
• Incorporates EROS instrumentation capabilities
• USGS actively involved with industry and NASA SSC
  in Digital Airborne Product Verification (see
  Phil Rufes presentation)
• Digital Sensor manufacturers and work this and
  are interested in making things happen
• Very promising!

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Five Satellite Data

• 5. A calibration/verification process must be
  established for satellite imagery.
• USGS, partnered with NASA and NGA, leading the
  Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation
  (JACIE) team.
• On-going for four years now
• Hosted at USGS Headquarters in Reston
• JACIE evolving to address airborne and
  international datasets
• USGS leading CRSSP implementation
• USGS also involved in other Satellite Cal/Val
• Landsat(s) 5 7, EO-1 ALI and Hyperion, LDCM
• International Surrey Satellite, CBERS-2,
  ResourcesSat-1
• Active in CEOS WGCV, EuroSDR, ASPRS/ISPRS
• RObotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO)

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Six Develop Standards

• 6. Develop a U.S. Standard for camera and sensor
  calibration.
• USGS has had standards for other data for years
• Existing National Map Accuracy Standards served
  paper maps for decades
• DOQ standards served initial digitized aerial
  imagery
• The limited capabilities of the sensors and
  processes originally used in producing digital
  orthoimagery led to simpler standards (primarily
  geometry)
• The USGS is leading an effort to define new
  Digital Remote Sensing Data standards
• Desire ASPRS and industry participation
• Possibility for international standards w/ ISPRS

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Six Develop Standards (cont.)

• Inter-Agency Digital Imagery Work Group (IADIWG)
  established
• Cooperating agencies BOR, BLM, COE, EPA, FSA,
  FWS, NIST, NGA, NOAA, NRCS, USFS, and USGS
• Kickoff meeting held and draft charter developed
• Draft specifications, guidelines, and standards
  for digital image acquisition being worked
• Host workshop to review draft specifications,
  guidelines, and standards Summer 2005
• Draft Final presented to ASPRS PECORA 16 -
  October 2005
• Other potential efforts
• Other digital data types and data formats
• Help compile aerial data requirements and
  contract vehicles
• ASPRS PDAD Geospatial Image Quality Commission

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Seven USGS Funding

• Adequate funding should be sought in order to
  ensure the continued operation of the Optical
  Science Laboratory (OSL), as well as to provide
  for the improvements and extensions described in
  the preceding recommendations.
• OSL calibrations are paid by fees charged to
  camera owners
• Fees likely to increase in FY06
• This will be first fee increase since 1999
• USGS funding has been limited
• Many tasks limited funds
• Project is established and ready for growth
• Optimistic for future
• Inter-agency funding support?