Imagery for the Nation and the changing landscape Remote sensing systems overview Geo-spatial requirements for GIS Technology advancements in sensing systems and platforms Technology advancements in software Technological advancements in visualization Conclusions

Remote sensing systems overview Aerial photography National High Altitude Photography (NHAP) program (1980 – 89). –goal reduce duplicate photography in various Federal Government programs. –cover the lower 48 states over a five year period with infrared aerial photography at 1:58,000 and black and white photography at 1:80,000 based on the USGS 7.5” Quadrangles. National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) ( ) –larger scale imagery (i.e. 1: 40,000). –cost-sharing agreement with local government that required higher resolution, photogrammetric quality aerial photography. –in return the local government would provide ortho-images back to the Federal Government.

Early Satellite imaging –Landsat I (1972) first comprehensive coverage of the planet. 90 meter resolution four band (MSS) 90 meter resolution four band (MSS) (RBV) systems –Six other Landsat systems to follow “latest” (i.e. 1999) being Landsat 7 ETM – six multispectral 30 meter bands –one 15 meter Panchromatic band – and its one 60 meter thermal band –Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) 5 meter TM type sensor??? Remote sensing systems overview

A new era: private sector high resolution spaced-based imaging –IKONOS in 1999 represented two firsts: 082 meters panchromatic 3.2 meters multispectral Geo-location accuracy < 5 meters CE90[with GCP& DEM –Quckbird system in 2001 with specifications of: 0.61 meters panchromatic 2.4 meters multispectral Geo-location accuracy < 5 meters CE90 with GCP & DEM –WorldView-1 in meters panchromatic 0.50 meters panchromatic Geo-location accuracy 3.0 – 7.6 meters CE90 with GCP & DEM –GEOEYE-1 in August of 2008 with specifications of: 0.41 meter panchromatic 1.65 meter multispectral Geo-location accuracy < 3 meters CE90 with GCP & DE –WorldView-2 expected launch date mid-2009 with specifications of: 0.46 meters panchromatic 1.82 meters multispectral (8 bands) Geo-location accuracy ~2.0 meters with GCP and DEM –GEOEYE-2 expected launch date 2011 with specifications of: 0.25 meter panchromatic ??? Multispectral Geo-location accuracy < 2.0 meters with GCP and DEM.

Central Park NYC

GEOEYE-1 Kutztown, PA October 7, x in 10 years

Kutztown GEOEYE-1

Geo-spatial requirements for GIS Rural – 50 – 100 cm image resolution –3 - 5 m absolute accuracy of base-map (CE90) –spot elevations of individual buildings Suburban –< 66 cm image resolution –1.0 – 3 m absolute accuracy of base-map (CE90) –spot elevations of individual buildings Dense urban –< 25 cm image resolution –< 50 cm absolute accuracy of base-map (CE90) –3-D modeling of individual buildings –“true” orthophotography < 25 cm resolution –Oblique analytic photography (i.e. Pictometry)

Technology advancements in sensing systems and platforms Advancements in Sensor systems –Greater spatial, spectral, radiometric and temporal resolution Advancements in positioning systems –Airborne-GPS –Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) more stable satellite platforms Above enables new sensor capabilities Digital camera < 4 cm resolution LIDAR absolute accuracy < 4cm Increased RADAR absolute accuracy Great absolute accuracy of spaced-based images

Technology advancements in software Automated generation of elevation data Photogrammetrically through image matching LIDAR as a source for DEM data RADAR as a source for DEM data Object-based image analysis (i.e. E- cognition) 3-D coordinates for geospatial objects supported in GIS

Technological advancements in visualization Seamless access to multi-scale imagery of the earth with integration with other geographic layers GOOGLE Earth –2.5-D –3-D Objects (i.e. buildings) –street level ESRI ARC-Scene –2.5-D –3-D objects (i.e. buildings) Microsoft’s Virtual Earth –2.5-D –bird’s eye –3-D Objects (i.e. buildings) World Wind

Conclusion Lines are blurring between satellite-based remote sensing systems and aircraft-based remote sensing systems Given the new tools for visualization and access of global multi-scale remote sensing data the idea of public domain has been overtaken by the idea of public access This gives reason to explore licensing options for the IFTN project High quality elevation models (DEMs) are essential for high accuracy orthophotography such that these data sets can not be discussed separately The development of a new 5 meter TM like sensor should be deployed by the US government as part of the LSCP

Dr. Sean Ahearn NGAC Meeting October 16, 2008