Geometry Perfect – Radiometry Unknown?

Digital airborne imaging is established in practice. Still there are continuous changes in the layout of the digital sensors itself, but also in the processing chains and calibration processes. This current status will shortly be highlighted within this paper. No empirical results are given but a more general overview with focus on the differences between geometric and radiometric aspects of digital airborne images. Both two aspects are discussed from a manufacturer’s, user’s and standard’s point of view. The paper will show, that geometry and radiometry still are not yet perfect, but also not unknown. As with most of the new technologies sensor geometry and radiometry and according processing are still improved to finally lead to a most comprehensive, productive and efficient digital airborne sensor system.