Epipolar resampling of linear pushbroom satellite imagery by a new epipolarity model

This paper presents a practical epipolarity model for high-resolution linear pushbroom satellite images acquired in either along-track or cross-track mode, based on the projection reference plane in object space. A new method for epipolar resampling of satellite stereo imagery based on this model is then developed. In this method, the pixel-to-pixel relationship between the original image and the generated epipolar image is established directly by the geometric sensor model. The approximate epipolar images are generated in amanner similar to digital image rectification. In addition, by arranging the approximate epipolar lines on the defined projection reference plane, a stereoscopic model with consistent ground sampling distance and parallel to the object space is thus available, which is more convenient for threedimensional measurement and interpretation. The results obtained from SPOT5, IKONOS, IRS-P5, and QuickBird stereo images indicate that the generated epipolar images all achieve high accuracy. Moreover, the vertical parallaxes at check points are at sub-pixel level, thus proving the feasibility, correctness, and applicability of the method. © 2011 International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Inc. (ISPRS). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.