Geo-Localization of Target in 3-Dimensional Coordinate Using SRTM Data

Abstract

This paper deals with Estimation of 3-Dimensional Geo-Location Coordinate (Latitude, Longitude and Elevation) of a given target location using the image of a Target captured from a Gimballed Camera mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The 2-Dimensional Geo-Location Coordinate (Latitude and Longitude) is estimated by the application of Geo-Location Algorithm based on the knowledge of target pixel location in the image. The Target Elevation is estimated by Elevation Estimation Algorithm using the 2-Dimensional Geo-Location Coordinate of target and Elevation Database such as NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Database, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) SRTM Database and Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model Version 2. This paper illustrates the Target Geo-Location Coordinate Estimation for two different experimental setup: UAV Simulation Setup and a Real Time Setup. The Geo-Location Estimation result obtained from the Simulation Setup is found to have localization error around 0.3 m, while the estimates from the Real Time Setup are found to have a higher localization error of around 2.3 m. The elevation result obtained using Elevation Estimation Algorithm for SRTM 1-Arc Second database is proved to be more accurate but this comes with a downside of having longer processing time when compared with other databases. NGA 3-Arc Second database provides the result with the shortest computation period.