Geology topics

Donald Moe

Publications and source records attributed to Donald Moe.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2014

Landsat 8 thermal infrared sensor geometric characterization and calibration

The Landsat 8 spacecraft was launched on 11 February 2013 carrying two imaging payloads: the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS). The TIRS instrument employs a refractive telescope design that is opaque to visible wavelengths making prelaunch geometric characterization challenging. TIRS geometric calibration thus relied heavily on on-orbit measurements. Since the two Landsat 8 payloads are complementary and generate combined Level 1 data products, the TIRS geometric performance requirements emphasize the co-alignment of the OLI and TIRS instrument fields of view and the registration of the OLI reflective bands to the TIRS long-wave infrared emissive bands. The TIRS on-orbit calibration procedures include measuring the TIRS-to-OLI alignment, refining the alignment of the three TIRS sensor chips, and ensuring the alignment of the two TIRS spectral bands. The two key TIRS performance metrics are the OLI reflective to TIRS emissive band registration accuracy, and the registration accuracy between the TIRS thermal bands. The on-orbit calibration campaign conducted during the commissioning period provided an accurate TIRS geometric model that enabled TIRS Level 1 data to meet all geometric accuracy requirements. Seasonal variations in TIRS-to-OLI alignment have led to several small calibration parameter adjustments since commissioning.

Remote Sensing↗

USGS2013

Metrically preserving the USGS aerial film archive

Since 1972, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has provided fi lm-based products to the public. EROS is home to an archive of 12 million frames of analog photography ranging from 1937 to the present. The archive contains collections from both aerial and satellite platforms including programs such as the National High Altitude Program (NHAP), National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP), U.S. Antarctic Resource Center (USARC), Declass 1(CORONA, ARGON, and LANYARD), Declass 2 (KH-7 and KH-9), and Landsat (1972 – 1992, Landsat 1–5).

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing↗

USGS2010

Self calibration of small and medium format digital cameras

The knowledge of a camera’s interior orientation parameters are a prerequisite for the camera to be used in any precision photogrammetric project. Historically, the interior orientation parameters have been determined by analyzing the measured ground 3D coordinates of photo-identifiable targets, and their 2D (image) coordinates from multiple images of these targets. Camera self calibration, on the other hand, uses targets on a scene that have not been measured before. In this research, we will briefly discuss existing self calibration techniques, and present two methods for camera self calibration that are being used at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Data Center. The first method, developed by Pictometry (augmented by Dr C.S. Fraser), uses a series of coded targets on a cage. The coded targets form different patterns that are imaged from nine different locations with differing camera orientations. A free network solution using collinearity equations is used to determine the calibration parameters. The coded targets are placed on the cage in three different planes, which allows for a robust calibration procedure. The USGS/EROS has developed an inexpensive method for calibration, particularly for calibrating short focal length cameras. In this case, the coded targets are pasted on a small prototype box and imaged from different locations and camera orientations. The design of the box is discussed, and the results of the box and the cage calibrations are compared and analyzed.

Conference Paper↗

USGS2008

Standards and specifications for the calibration and stability of amateur digital cameras for close-range mapping applications

Photogrammetry is concerned with the accurate derivation of spatial and descriptive information from imagery that can be used in several applications such as mapping, DEM generation, orthophoto production, construction planning, environmental monitoring, structural analysis, 3D visualization, and change detection. The type of cameras traditionally used for high accuracy projects were large format analogue cameras. In recent years, however, the use of digital cameras for photogrammetric purposes has become more prevalent. The switch by some users from analogue to digital cameras has been fuelled by the ease of use, decreasing cost, and increasing resolution of digital cameras. Digital photogrammetric cameras can be classified into several categories: line cameras (e.g., ADS40 from Leica Geosystems), large format frame cameras (e.g., DMC TM from Zeiss/Intergraph), and medium to small-format digital cameras. More recently, amateur medium-format digital cameras (MFDC) and small-format digital cameras (SFDC) are being used in photogrammetric activities (e.g., in conjunction with LiDAR systems, smaller flight blocks, and for close-range photogrammetric applications). The continuing development in the capabilities of digital photogrammetry coupled with users’ needs has spawned new markets in photogrammetric mapping with amateur digital cameras. With the wide spectrum of designs for amateur digital cameras, several issues have surfaced, including the method and quality of camera calibration, as well as long-term stability. This paper addresses these concerns and outlines possible solutions. First, we will start by introducing an automated methodology for an in-door camera calibration. The main objective of such a procedure is to provide mapping companies using these cameras with a simple calibration procedure that requires an easy-to-establish test field. The paper will then discuss the concept of how to evaluate camera stability, which will be followed by the introduction of a set of tools for its evaluation. Following the discussion on calibration and stability analysis, the paper will deal with several related questions: How to develop meaningful standards for evaluating the outcome from the calibration procedure; How to develop meaningful standards for evaluating the stability of the involved camera; Is there a flexibility in choosing the stability analysis tool based on the geo-referencing procedure; Can the stability analysis be used for evaluating the equivalency of different distortion models. Finally, experimental results are then provided for two small format digital cameras.

Conference Paper↗