An improved model for automatic feature-based registration of SAR and SPOT images

Abstract

Accurate image registration is essential for the successful creation and interpretation of multi-image spatial information products. However, the enormous increase in the volume of remotely sensed data that is being acquired by an ever growing number of Earth Observation satellites means that automation now plays a more vital role than ever before in the registration procedure. This paper introduces an improved model for automatic feature-based image registration, and presents a robust system for automatically registering SAR and SPOT imagery. The model incorporates multiple feature extraction and feature matching algorithms which operate together to identify common features in the multi-sensor images, from which accurate tie points can be derived. Application of the proposed automatic registration model to both small and large images showed that in each case a large number of accurate tie points could be identified fully automatically across the images.