Developing and Implementing Line-based Transformation Models to Register Satellite Images

Advances in remote sensing technologies demonstrated the capability to acquire high quality metric information from satellite images. The IKONOS satellite image, for example, has a pixel size of one meter. The sensor model parameters are not yet released. This motivate the use of empirical transformation models to represent the relationship between image space coordinates and object space coordinates. Most of the employed transformation models are based on point features. However, these transformation models could be driven using linear features. Linear features are easier to digitize than point features and they improve both the geometric strength and the redundancy of the adjustment model. This research investigates the rectification of a single Geo panchromatic IKONOS image using different line-based transformation models. Experiments are conducted using the 2D line-based transformation models using 6 and 8 parameters and the line-based DLT model. Different sets of ground control lines are tested. Results showed that less than two meters horizontal RMSE could be achieved. In addition, insignificant differences are noticed between the transformation parameters computed using the point-based and the line-based transformation models. Results are compared with those of point based transformation model and they are stable.