Performance of the Imaging System in the Lh Systems Ads40 Airborne Digital Sensor

The LH Systems ADS40 airborne digital sensor fulfils photogrammetric and remote sensing requirements. The new sensor is not only a camera to acquire attractive pictures: it is the next fully digital generation of measurement device for airborne photogrammetry and remote sensing. The accuracy of the lens and focal plane system under flight conditions (pressure and temperature) is described and a justification provided for the selection of the staggered CCD elements as the best choice for the customer. The electronics of the real-time data processing channel are introduced and the absolute signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) function of the sensor given. A modular, customised concept is used and the first version of the sensor has four multispectral CCD lines, which are selected to support both photogrammetry and remote sensing applications. The principle of achieving good colour pixel matching is explained. After a short description of the digital sensor’s function and the technical performance, some application examples are shown to demonstrate the main features of the digital sensor: wide angle, high radiometric dynamics, high signal-to-noise-ratio, in-track stereo capability and multispectral capability.