Geometric Aspects of the Handling of Space Images

Only few space images do have a perspective geometry like aerial cameras. But also the Russian perspective photos do have not negligible systematic image errors. By this reason special mathematical models have to be used for a correct handling of the space images. Polynomial models, often used for remote sensing purposes, are no economic solutions because they do mix the influence of the sensor geometry with the influence of the object elevation and require a high number of control points and do have problems with the identifications of blunders. Different mathematical models have to be used for the correct handling of perspective images together with the identification of systematic image errors, the handling of panoramic cameras like CORONA and KFA 1000, for satellite line scanner cameras and rectification derived from satellite line scanner cameras like the IKONOS Geo-images. The different mathematical models are explained together with achieved results and problems of the sensors. The solution for the upgrade of IKONOS Geo-images based on a DEM and control points without using rational functions from SpaceImaging (SI) is described. The achieved results are better than specified by SI for the CARTERRA Precision plus.