Abstract
Images from two sensors, the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and the Context Camera (CTX), both on-board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), were used to generate high-quality DEMs (Digital Elevation Models) of the Martian surface. However, there were discrepancies between the DEMs generated from the images acquired by these two sensors due to various reasons, such as variations in boresight alignment between the two sensors during the flight in the complex environment. This paper presents a systematic investigation of the discrepancies between the DEMs generated from the HiRISE and CTX images. A combined adjustment algorithm is presented for the co-registration of HiRISE and CTX DEMs. Experimental analysis was carried out using the HiRISE and CTX images collected at the Mars Rover landing site and several other typical regions. The results indicated that there were systematic offsets between the HiRISE and CTX DEMs in the longitude and latitude directions. However, the offset in the altitude was less obvious. After combined adjustment, the offsets were eliminated and the HiRISE and CTX DEMs were co-registered to each other. The presented research is of significance for the synergistic use of HiRISE and CTX images for precision Mars topographic mapping.
Highlights
CTX and High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) are two imaging systems on board NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft
Inconsistencies between the DEMs derived from the HiRISE and CTX images have been noted in the past
This paper presents a systematic study of the inconsistencies between the HiRISE and CTX DEMs, and a co-registration method to eliminate the inconsistencies by improving the exterior orientation (EO) parameters of the images
Summary
CTX and HiRISE are two imaging systems on board NASA’s MRO spacecraft. They have been widely used to derive Mars topographic products such as DEMs (Digital Elevation Models). Due to the complex environment during flight in space, the boresight parameters of the CTX and HiRISE cameras may change. These changes may lead to an inaccurate exterior orientation (EO) of the instruments and further result in inconsistencies between the 3D information obtained from HiRISE and CTX images. Tao et al (2014) further presented the inconsistencies among the DEMs generated from HiRISE, CTX and HRSC images. This paper presents a systematic study of the inconsistencies between the HiRISE and CTX DEMs, and a co-registration method to eliminate the inconsistencies by improving the EO parameters of the images.
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