Monitoring & Assuring the Quality of Digital Aerial Data Jon Christopherson SAIC/USGS EROS, [email protected] 2006 JACIE Conference, 16 March 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey OOuuttlliinnee History of USGS Aerial Imaging Involvement (cid:122) ASPRS Requests (cid:139) USGS Research & Results (cid:122) Outline of USGS Quality Assurance Plan (cid:122) Others areas of interest (cid:122) Summary (cid:122) 2 IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn && HHiissttoorryy USGS has calibrated aerial cameras since 1973 (cid:122) USGS Optical Science Lab in Reston, VA (cid:122) Responsibility transferred to EROS in 2002. (cid:139) Staffed by 3 on-site SAIC staff (cid:139) Add’l support from EROS staff (cid:139) 1998: USGS asks ASPRS to look at Camera Cal (cid:122) 1999: ASPRS convenes Camera Cal Panel (cid:122) Comprised of Industry, Academia, & Gov’t (cid:139) 2000: Panel sends its recommendations to USGS (cid:122) 3 AASSPPRRSS RReeccoommmmeennddaattiioonnss The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should continue to 1. calibrate film mapping cameras using the present calibrator and the Simultaneous Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC) program. Initiate the design, development, and implementation of a digital 2. camera calibration capability at the USGS (est. required investment - $4 M). Conduct research efforts in order to support a reliable and cost 3. effective transition to digital acquisition systems (est. required investment - $1 M) Initiate the design, development and implementation of an in situ 4. (flight) calibration process. A calibration/verification process must be established for satellite 5. imagery. Develop a U.S. Standard for camera and sensor calibration. 6. Adequate funding should be sought in order to ensure the continued 7. operation of the Optical Science Laboratory (OSL), as well as to provide for the improvements and extensions described in the preceding recommendations. 4 TThhee UUSSGGSS AAnnsswweerrss Film Calibration: (cid:122) Optical Science Lab remains open & upgraded (cid:139) Research into Digital Aerial Systems (cid:122) USGS research in-house & via contracts & grants (cid:139) Research with partners (cid:139) In-situ calibration methods (cid:139) Cal/Val Process for Satellite Imagery (cid:122) JACIE – you’re here! (cid:139) Adequate Funding (cid:122) Always an issue but progress is being made (cid:139) Develop Standards for Digital Aerial Imagery (cid:122) calibration 5 RReesseeaarrcchh:: CCaalliibbrraattiioonn TTeecchhnniiqquueess Laboratory and In-Situ (cid:122) Calibration techniques 6 RReesseeaarrcchh:: MMoodduullaattiioonn TTrraannssffeerr FFuunnccttiioonn ((MMTTFF)) TTooooll MATLAB based w/Simplified GUI (cid:122) Works for indoor (lab) or outdoor (in-situ) (cid:122) edge targets Detailed, report ready, output (cid:122) 7 RReesseeaarrcchh –– PPrroodduucctt VVaalliiddaattiioonn No “USGS Calibration Report” available for Digital (cid:122) Interim Measure: (cid:122) Evaluate Digital Aerial Products Stennis range flown and (cid:122) products generated Products assessed (cid:139) against 100’s of CP’s SSC Geopositional Targets 8 PPrroodduucctt TTeessttiinngg RReessuullttss Results of data product testing over Stennis, MS Range (cid:122) Measured Geodetic Accuracies GSDs range (cid:122) 2.00 from 1m to 0.15 m (6”) 1.80 Absolute (m) 1.60 Relative (GSD) Date are (cid:122) 1.40 good r 1.20 o r r E 1.00 E S M R 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Data Series 9 DDiiggiittaall AAeerriiaall SSttaannddaarrddss In our research we have learned: (cid:122) Digital Aerial Systems are more than “just cameras” (cid:122) Quality comes from more than just sensors (cid:122) End-User satisfaction comes from more than just a (cid:122) sensor in an aircraft Quality is a process (cid:122) Quality is end-to-end (cid:122) And…we need to speak with a larger voice! (cid:122) 10