On-orbit Geometric Calibration Research Articles

On-orbit calibration based upon star observation to correct thermal deformation of geostationary optical satellites

The thermal environment in a geostationary orbit is more complicated than a low orbit. Thermal deformation is a primary factor to deteriorate geometric quality of remote imaging of geostationary optical satellites. The on-orbit geometric quality testing of the SDLT-1 satellite of China shows that the light of sight (LOS) deformation in longitude and latitude are 26 pixels and 14 pixels, respectively, which do not meet the accuracy requirements. Therefore, a novel on-orbit geometric calibration method based on star observation is proposed to improve the geometric deformation. The imager embodied stars are employed as sources to evaluate the developed method and compared with the traditional procedure based upon landmarks. The results show that the geometric accuracy of the new approach is 3.2 pixels which is improved compared to traditional calibration method.

On-orbit geometric calibration and preliminary accuracy verification of GaoFen-14 (GF-14) optical two linear-array stereo camera

ABSTRACT The GaoFen-14 (GF-14) satellite is China’s most recent high-resolution earth observation satellite system. It is equipped with a two linear-array stereo camera and is intend for topographic mapping at 1:10,000-scale without ground control points (GCPs). The technical parameters of payloads will change once the satellite enters orbit. As a result, strict on-orbit geometric calibration is necessary. This study performs the on-orbit geometric calibration of the GF-14 stereo camera using ground calibration data. The exterior orientation errors are corrected by a comprehensive bias matrix, internal orientation errors are described by a fifth order polynomial. The results of Yinchuan calibration field show that the planar accuracy is better than 286 m (RMS) before calibration, and improved to 2.11 m (front camera) and 1.51 m (back camera) by external orientation, and further improved to 1.46 m (front camera) and 0.99 m (back camera) after internal calibration. The front intersection accuracy reaches 0.67 m in plane (RMS) and 1.10 m in elevation (RMS), respectively. Checking by multiple global check points (CKPs), the planar and elevation RMS reaches 2.38 m (5.09 m in CE90) and 2.08 m (3.43 m in LE90), respectively.

On-Orbit Geometric Calibration and Performance Validation of the GaoFen-14 Stereo Mapping Satellite

The GaoFen-14 satellite is primarily utilized for global high-precision positioning and generating 1:10,000 scale geographic information products, making it one of the most accurate stereo mapping satellites in China. With a long-stitched CCD (charge couple device) consisting of nine chips for the forward view camera and six chips for the backward view camera, it is crucial to validate the satellite’s geometric performance and achieve high uncontrolled global positioning precision. In this study, two calibration models were proposed for the on-orbit calibration of the GaoFen-14 satellite: one accounting for the inter-chip geometry constraint and another without the constraint. Correspondingly, five calibration schemes (A, B, C, D, and E) were designed, with varying settings of the external calibration parameters, interior parameters, and utilization of the optical axis measurement data. Schemes A and B utilized the same set of alignment angles for the forward and backward images and differed in the set of interior calibration parameters. Scheme A took a single set of interior calibration parameters for all chips within the same view, while Scheme B set independent interior calibration parameters for each chip in both the forward and backward views considering the inter-chip geometry constraint. Schemes C, D, and E set two groups of alignment angles for the forward and backward views, respectively. In addition, Schemes C, D, and E utilized GaoFen-14′s specific real-time recording data of the optical axis, incorporating a slight revision of the alignment angle calibration value using dichotomous search. The interior models of Schemes A and C were identical, and those of Schemes B and D were the same. In comparison with scheme D, scheme E only lacks the inter-chip geometry constraint. These five schemes were taken to validate the most suitable exterior model and interior model for the GaoFen-14 satellite. Calibration experiments were conducted using original multichip images and the stitched images from the Zhongwei, Ningxia, and Songshan (Henan) test fields. Additionally, four sets of data from around the world are used to verify the calibration effect. The results demonstrated significant improvements in uncontrolled positioning accuracy for all five calibration schemes, transitioning from the 100 m level to the meter or even the submeter level. However, Schemes A and B exhibited unstable controlled positioning accuracy, with fluctuations ranging from 1 m to 5 m. In contrast, Schemes C, D, and E achieved substantial enhancements in uncontrolled positioning accuracy, maintaining stability with variations ranging from 0.94 to 1.14 m in the X direction, 0.41 to 0.48 m in the Y direction, and 0.77 to 0.81 m in the Z direction. The positions of the CCD probes obtained from Schemes C and D demonstrated consistency, with over 80% of the probes falling within 0.1 pixels, and all of the sampled probes within 0.3 pixels. However, Scheme D behaves better in describing the geometric deformation of each CCD chip and keeping the integrity of the long-stitched CCD simultaneously. These experimental results validate the GaoFen-14 satellite’s ability to achieve stable uncontrolled positioning accuracy worldwide and a stable geometric structure between multichips. For the GaoFen-14 satellite, it is more appropriate to adopt two sets of alignment angles for the forward and backward views, respectively. As the satellite’s on-orbit operation time increases, it is recommended to employ Scheme D for monitoring inconsistent local geometric deformation in future calibration work.

Centroid Extraction of Laser Spots Captured by Infrared Detectors Combining Laser Footprint Images and Detector Observation Data

On-orbit geometric calibration of satellite-borne laser based on infrared detectors is the key tool to ensure the elevation measurement accuracy, and the accuracy of on-orbit geometric calibration is directly determined by laser spots captured by detectors. Mathematical methods, such as gray-scale barycenter, are widely applied for centroid extraction of spots captured by infrared detectors and completely depend on the energy values at points measured by detectors, which have low precision and are greatly affected by the consistency of the detectors and other factors at present. Based on the above question, considering the consistency between the real laser footprint shape and spot captured by detectors, a centroid extraction method of laser spots captured by infrared detectors combining laser footprint images and detector observation data is proposed for making up this defect to some extent. First, the self-adaptive “two-step method” is used to denoise footprint images hierarchically to obtain the real shape of footprints for constraining the spots captured by detectors, and then the centroids of spots are extracted by using the energy-weighted barycenter method based on regional blocks. In the experiment, Gaofen-7 (GF-7) satellite is taken as the research object, and the proposed method, as well as the other six methods, are used for the centroid extraction of laser spots captured by detectors, the calculation of calibration parameters based on the single-beam and dual-beam laser calibration models, the positioning of laser footprints, and cross verification. According to the results, the plane accuracy of centroid extraction using the proposed method is as follows: 0.34 grids for Beam 1 and 0.33 grids for Beam 2. In addition, on flat terrain, the elevation accuracy of Beam 1 and Beam 2 in 2021 is 5.2 cm and 5.0 cm, respectively, 0.6 cm and 4.2 cm higher than those in the most accurate one among other methods; the elevation accuracy in 2020 is 23.3 cm and 7.1 cm, respectively, 7.7 cm and 2.7 cm higher than those in the most accurate one among other methods. On slopes and gentle slopes, the method proposed is also superior to other methods. Since the change of pointing angle caused by satellite jitter, atmosphere, etc., between different years, the accuracy drops when laser footprints of 2020 are located using the parameters of 2021. In summary, under different terrains and years, the results fully demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method, which has more significant advantages than other traditional methods.

On-Orbit Autonomous Geometric Calibration of Directional Polarimetric Camera

The Directional Polarimetric Camera (DPC) carried by the Chinese GaoFen-5-02 (GF-5-02) satellite has the ability for multiangle, multispectral, and polarization detection and will play an important role in the inversion of atmospheric aerosol and cloud characteristics. To ensure the validity of the DPC on-orbit multiangle and multispectral polarization data, high-precision image registration and geolocation are vital. High-precision geometric model parameters are a prerequisite for on-orbit image registration and geolocation. Therefore, on the basis of the multiangle imaging characteristics of DPC, an on-orbit autonomous geometric calibration method without ground reference data is proposed. The method includes three steps: (1) preprocessing the original image of the DPC and the satellite attitude and orbit parameters; (2) scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm to match homologous points between multiangle images; (3) optimization of geometric model parameters on-orbit using least square theory. To verify the effectiveness of the on-orbit autonomous geometric calibration method, the image registration performance and relative geolocation accuracy before and after DPC on-orbit geometric calibration were evaluated and analyzed using the SIFT algorithm and the coastline crossing method (CCM). The results show that the on-orbit autonomous geometric calibration effectively improves the DPC image registration and relative geolocation accuracy. After on-orbit calibration, the multiangle image registration accuracy is better than 1.530 km, the multispectral image registration accuracy is better than 0.650 km, and the relative geolocation accuracy is better than 1.275 km, all reaching the subpixel level (<1.7 km).

On-Orbit Geometric Calibration and Accuracy Validation for Laser Footprint Cameras of GF-7 Satellite

The Gaofen-7 (GF-7) satellite uses a two-beam laser altimetry system in which each beam is equipped with a laser footprint camera (LFC) to provide geometric processing of the laser footprint images that assist in optical image stereo mapping. Because of the violent vibrations during launch and the difference in the environment before and after entering orbit, the key parameters for geometric processing of the laser footprint images may change, which will cause large geolocation errors. Therefore, it is essential to carry out on-orbit calibration and validation for the laser footprint cameras. This study first constructs a rigorous geometric positioning model for the LFC of the GF-7 satellite and analyses various error sources that affect the geometric positioning accuracy of laser footprint images. Then, a comprehensive calibration method, which effectively eliminates the distortion of the LFC optical system, and the positioning error caused by the long-period jitter of the satellite platform, is proposed based on the multi-scene images combined with image simulation. The proposed method can effectively eliminate various errors that affect the geometric positioning accuracy of the GF-7 laser footprint image. The internal geometric positioning accuracy of the calibrated LFC is better than 0.7 pixels, and the absolute geometric positioning accuracy is within 6.0 m after using precise post-processing orbital and attitude data. Our study will contribute to the processing and application of laser altimetry data from the GF-7 satellite.

Long-Periodic Analysis of Boresight Misalignment of Ziyuan3-01 Three-Line Camera

The Ziyuan3-01 (ZY3-01) satellite is China’s first civilian stereo surveying and mapping satellite to meet the 1:50,000 scale mapping requirements, and has been operated in orbit for 10 years. The boresight misalignment of the three-line camera (TLC) is an essential factor affecting the geolocation accuracy, which is a principal concern for stereo mapping satellites. However, the relative relationships of TLC are often regarded as fixed for the same ground scene in most traditional geometric calibrations, without considering the on-orbit long-periodic changes. In this paper, we propose a long-periodic method to analyze and estimate the boresight misalignments between three cameras, with the attitude estimation of a nadir (NAD) camera as the benchmark. Offsets and drifts of the three cameras were calculated and calibrated with different compensation models using scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) points as the ground control. Ten simultaneous NAD–Forward (FWD)–Backward (BWD) imagery of the ZY3-01 satellite acquired from 2012 to 2020 were selected to verify the long-periodic changes in TLC boresight misalignments. The results indicate that the boresight alignment angles of ZY3-01 TLC are dynamic during the long-periodic flight, but the structure of TLC is stable for the misalignments of both FWD and BWD within only 7 arc seconds, which can provide a positive reference for subsequent satellite design and long-periodic on-orbit geometric calibration.

Robust Camera Distortion Calibration via Unified RPC Model for Optical Remote Sensing Satellites

On-orbit geometric calibration (GC) is always performed to compensate for geometric distortion from the satellite’s camera. However, the traditional GC method is complex and difficult to apply broadly due to its reliance on a rigorous physical model (RPM), which involves not only complex processing of attitude, orbit, and time, but also the transformation among multiple coordinate systems. Additionally, the RPM is closely related to designs of satellites and cameras, which increases the complexity of the GC, and thus reduces generalizability. This paper proposes a practical and robust GC method to prevent camera distortion based on a standardized rational polynomial coefficient (RPC) model. Through a series of innovations, including stepwise optimization, a priori gross error elimination, the adjustment model with angular resolution, and the correction for the bias field-of-view (FOV) distortion, we were able to achieve robust GC for camera distortion, as well as accurate splicing and registration among segmented images. Method validation using data from the linear-array camera of the ZiYuan3-02 satellite, and the area-array camera of the GaoFen-4 satellite, produced satisfactory results, indicating that our method effectively compensates for systematic geometric distortion such that consistent GC and accuracy comparable with that of traditional RPM-based methods can be obtained.

On-Orbit High-Accuracy Geometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Camera Based on Star Sources Observation

The on-orbit calibration technology for internal and external parameters of remote sensing camera is the key to guaranteeing the imaging quality and positioning accuracy. Conventional landmark-based methods are not suitable for satellite missions where landmarks do not work nor for the on-orbit autonomous calibration of large remote sensing constellation. Hence, we introduced an on-orbit geometric calibration method based on star sources observation. By adjusting the satellite attitude, the camera and star sensor can simultaneously detect the star sources. Taking the star sources as control points, a high-accuracy “camera-star sensor” joint geometric calibration model integrating the space–time effects and optical imaging is established, which precisely decouples the deviations caused by the relativistic effects, the distortion of internal parameters, and the bias of external parameters. Furthermore, the procedures of the method are designed for on-orbit autonomous calibration. On-orbit experiments were carried out in several satellites, such as Jilin-1 ShiPin07 (JL-1 SP07). The results showed that the accuracy of internal calibration could reach 0.052” and the error of external installation matrix was within ±1.4”. Therefore, the method is attractive for actualizing on-orbit autonomous geometric calibration accurately and complements the conventional methods where the availability of landmarks is hard.

On-Orbit Geometric Calibration from the Relative Motion of Stars for Geostationary Cameras.

Affected by the vibrations and thermal shocks during launch and the orbit penetration process, the geometric positioning model of the remote sensing cameras measured on the ground will generate a displacement, affecting the geometric accuracy of imagery and requiring recalibration. Conventional methods adopt the ground control points (GCPs) or stars as references for on-orbit geometric calibration. However, inescapable cloud coverage and discontented extraction algorithms make it extremely difficult to collect sufficient high-precision GCPs for modifying the misalignment of the camera, especially for geostationary satellites. Additionally, the number of the observed stars is very likely to be inadequate for calibrating the relative installations of the camera. In terms of the problems above, we propose a novel on-orbit geometric calibration method using the relative motion of stars for geostationary cameras. First, a geometric calibration model is constructed based on the optical system structure. Then, we analyze the relative motion transformation of the observed stars. The stellar trajectory and the auxiliary ephemeris are used to obtain the corresponding object vector for correcting the associated calibration parameters iteratively. Experimental results evaluated on the data of a geostationary experiment satellite demonstrate that the positioning errors corrected by this proposed method can be within ±2.35 pixels. This approach is able to effectively calibrate the camera and improve the positioning accuracy, which avoids the influence of cloud cover and overcomes the great dependence on the number of the observed stars.

Geometric Calibration and Image Quality Assessment of High Resolution Dual-Camera Satellite

The evaluation of geometric calibration accuracy of high resolution satellite images has been increasingly recognized in recent years. In order to evaluate geometric accuracy for dual-camera satellite images based on the ground control points (GCP), a rigorous geometric imaging model, which was based on the collinear equation of the probe directional angle and the optimized tri-axial attitude determination (TRIAD) algorithm, is presented. Two reliable test fields in Tianjin and Jinan (China) were utilized for geometric accuracy validation of Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1. The experimental results demonstrate a certain deviation of the on-orbit calibration result from the initial design values of the calibration parameters. Therefore, on-orbit geometric calibration is necessary for optical satellite imagery. Within this research, the geometrical performances including positioning accuracy without/with GCP and band registration of the dual-camera satellite were analyzed in detail, and the results of geometric image quality are assessed and discussed. As a result, it is feasible and necessary to establish such a geometric calibration model to evaluate the geometric quality of dual-camera satellite.

Coarse-to-Fine Image Matching-Based Footprint Camera Calibration of the GF-7 Satellite.

The GF-7 satellite is China’s first high-resolution stereo mapping satellite that reaches sub-meter resolution, equipped with new-type payloads, such as an area array footprint camera that can achieve synchronization acquisition of laser spots. When the satellite is in space, the variation of camera parameters may occur due to launch vibration and environmental changes, and on-orbit geometric calibration thereby must be made. Coupled with the data from the GF-7 satellite, this paper constructs a geometric imaging model of the area array footprint camera based on the two-dimensional direction angle, and proposes a coarse-to-fine “LPM-SIFT + Phase correlation” matching strategy for the automatic extraction of calibration control points. The single-image calibration experiment shows that the on-orbit geometric calibration model of the footprint camera constructed in this paper is correct and effective. The matching method proposed is used to register the footprint images with the DOM (Digital Orthophoto Map) reference data to obtain dense control points. Compared with the calibration result using a small number of manually collected control points, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the residual of the control points is improved from half a pixel to 1/3, and the RMSE of the same orbit checkpoints in the image space is improved from 1 pixel to 0.7. It can be concluded that using the coarse-to-fine image matching method proposed in this paper to extract control points can significantly improve the on-orbit calibration accuracy of the footprint camera on the GF-7 satellite.

Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor Scene Select Mechanism Open Loop Operations

The Landsat 8 (L8) spacecraft and its two instruments, the operational land imager (OLI) and thermal infrared sensor (TIRS), have been consistently characterized and calibrated since its launch in February 2013. These performance metrics and calibration updates are determined through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat image assessment system (IAS), which has been performing this function since its launch. The TIRS on-orbit geometric calibration procedures include TIRS-to-OLI alignment, TIRS sensor chip assembly (SCA) alignment, and TIRS band alignment. In December 2014, the TIRS instrument experienced an anomalous condition related to the instrument’s ability to accurately measure the location of the scene select mechanism (SSM). The SSM is a rotating mirror that allows the instrument’s field of view to be pointed at the Earth, for normal imaging, or at either deep space or an onboard black body, for radiometric calibration purposes. This anomalous condition in the SSM’s position sensor made it necessary to implement a new mode of operation for this mirror, termed mode-0. Mode-0 involves operating the mirror in an open-loop control state during normal mission operations when acquiring Earth data. Closed-loop mode-4 is needed for directing the mirror towards the radiometric calibration targets and is used approximately once every two weeks to collect radiometric calibration data. Mode-0 is used for most operational imaging because it does not require SSM encoder data, thereby allowing the SSM encoder electronics to remain unpowered most of the time, reducing its use throughout the lifetime of the TIRS instrument, thus helping to preserve its nominal behavior during it use. This paper discusses the geometric calibration of the SSM mirror during its current normal mode-0 set of image operations, as its open-loop control allows the mirror to drift over time in its uncontrolled state and its effects on products. The results shown in this paper demonstrate that the ability to have ongoing updates to the modeling of the TIRS SSM mirror model, in both an automated fashion and with a set of more manual operations, allows accuracy that approaches mode-4 results within days from the start of a mode-0 event.

On-orbit geometric calibration and accuracy verification of Jilin1-KF01A WF camera

On-orbit geometric calibration and accuracy verification of Jilin1-KF01A WF camera

GCPs Extraction With Geometric Texture Pattern for Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Images

Accurate ground control points’ (GCPs) extraction is extremely essential to support the on-orbit geometric calibration and registrations of multitemporal and multispectral remote sensing images (RSIs). However, compared with other images, the thermal infrared (TIR) images responding to the targets’ temperature usually present low spatial resolution, poor contrast, and different mapping intensity, which make it difficult to get enough precision matches in the corresponding image pairs for GCPs’ extraction. Furthermore, with more attention to the gradient properties surrounding the interest points, the conventional feature-based algorithms generally neglect the plenty of geometric textural features of RSIs. Here, in this letter, we propose an accurate geometric-texture-based GCPs’ extraction approach for TIR RSIs. The novel textural log-polar pattern and the double constrained matching rules comprising the matching bits and differences are combined to guarantee the ultimate GCPs’ accuracy. The experimental results evaluated on TIR RSIs of Landsat 8 and GLS2000 show that the absolute matching errors of the proposed method in sample and line directions can be 0.50 and 0.47 pixels, which improve a lot in terms of three state-of-the-art methods.

Integrated geometric self-calibration of stereo cameras onboard the ZiYuan-3 satellite

The geometric quality of images is a principal concern for a stereo mapping satellite. On-orbit geometric calibration (GC) is an essential processing step that is always performed to ensure the geometric accuracy of satellite images. However, the traditional GC method is typically expensive and inefficient due to a large dependence on ground-based locations. Although recent GC methods based on relative constraints between images can substantially reduce plane constraints, which are used as the benchmark measurements in the traditional method, there is a strong correlation between elevation and camera orientation that necessitates additional elevation constraints. This paper proposes an integrated GC method to compensate for systematic errors in the three linear cameras (TLC) of the ZiYuan-3 (ZY-3) satellite. The relative constraints and the stereo intersection constraints from two sets of overlapped TLC imagery pairs allow for the removal of dense plane constraints, as well as elimination of the GC dependencies from the additional elevation constraints. This paper also systematically analyzes the relationship between elevation error and camera GC accuracy, proposes a unified GC model for TLC cameras based on matrix decomposition, and develops a suitable global estimation method for the solution of GC parameters. The method was validated through experiments performed on the TLC images, and satisfactory results indicated that it effectively compensates for systematic errors by onboard stereo TLC cameras.

A study of a two-dimensional scanned lunar image for Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) geometric calibration

Abstract. The NOAA-20 satellite was successfully launched on 18 November 2017. It carries five key instruments, including the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). On 31 January 2018, the spacecraft performed a pitch-over maneuver operation, during which two-dimensional lunar scan observations were collected. In this study, a technique has been developed by which the ATMS on-orbit geometric calibration accuracy can be validated based on this lunar scan dataset. The fully calibrated data are fitted to the antenna pattern coordinates via a Gaussian function. The deviation in the center of the fit function from the origin of the frame is taken to be the boresight pointing error of the instrument. This deviation is further transformed to the Euler angle roll and pitch defined in the spacecraft coordinate system. The estimated ATMS boresight pointing Euler angle roll (pitch) is 0.05∘ (0.22∘) at K band, −0.07∘ (0.25∘) at Ka band, 0.02∘ (0.24∘) at V band, -0.07∘ (-0.08∘) at W band, and -0.04∘ (0.02∘) at G band. The results are validated by comparing them with those derived from the coastline inflection point method, showing a good correlation. For the sounding channels where the coastline method is inapplicable, the lunar scan method is still capable of delivering reasonable estimations of their geometric calibration errors.

ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCING FACTORS OF CURVE MATCHING BASED GEOMETRIC CALIBRATION FOR ZY3-02 ALTIMETER DATA

Abstract. High-precision on-orbit geometric calibration of spaceborne laser altimetry data is essential to its effective applications. Firstly, the existing calibration methods for laser altimeter data are analyzed. Then, a geometric calibration method based on curve matching is proposed. Compared to the existing methods, the proposed method does not rely on ground calibration field. Thus, it is efficiency in expense and time. Notably, three factors, i.e. matching method, initial control point selection and the step size of matching step, which significantly affect the results of calibration are analyzed respectively. The analysis was validated based on the original laser altimetry data obtained by ZY3-02 satellite. According to the results, the following conclusions can be drawn preliminarily: (1) Both the correlation coefficient maximum (COR) criterion and the mean square error minimum (MSD) criterion in the curve matching can be used to correct the systematic error in altimetry data. (2) The initial control points of the selected track should have a significant change trend and the slope within the laser footprints should be less than 15°. (3) Current experimental data show that the best step size for matching search is 10 m. The relevant conclusions can provide reference for the research of geometrical calibration and data processing of the same type of laser altimetry satellite.

Geometric Processing and Accuracy Verification of Zhuhai-1 Hyperspectral Satellites

The second batch of Zhuhai-1 microsatellites was successfully launched on 26 April 2018. The batch included four Orbita hyperspectral satellites (referred to as OHS-A, OHS-B, OHS-C, and OHS-D) and one video satellite (OVS-2A), which have excellent hyperspectral data acquisition abilities. For the first time in China, a number of hyperspectral satellite networks have been realized. To ensure the application of hyperspectral remote sensing data, a series of on-orbit geometry processing and accuracy verification studies has been carried out on the “Zhuhai-1” hyperspectral camera since the satellite was launched. This paper presents the geometric processing methods involved in the production of Zhuhai-1 hyperspectral satellite basic products, including geometric calibration and basic product production algorithms. The OHS images were used to perform on-orbit geometric calibration, and the calibration accuracy was better than 0.5 pixels. The registration accuracy of the image spectrum of the basic product after calibration, the single orientation accuracy, and the accuracy of the regional network adjustment were evaluated. The spectral registration accuracy of the OHS basic products is 0.3–0.5 pixels, which is equivalent to the spectral band calibration accuracy. The single orientation accuracy is better than 1.5 pixels and the regional network adjustment accuracy is better than 1.2 pixels. The generated area orthoimages meet the seamless edge requirements, which verifies that the OHS basic product image has good regional mapping capabilities and can meet the application requirements.

Automatic on-orbit geometric calibration framework for geostationary optical satellite imagery using open access data

ABSTRACTDue to a variety of factors, long-term on-orbit geometric calibrations must be performed on the geostationary optical satellite to meet the subsequent high-precision geometric processing requirements. Designing a fully automatic on-orbit geometric inspection and calibration process has great application value. In this paper, we use open-access geographic information data to achieve a more robust automatic on-orbit geometric calibration for the imaging characteristics of the geostationary optical satellite. Experiments with the high-resolution geostationary optical satellite GaoFen4. Results show that the process designed in this paper enables automatic on-orbit geometric calibration of the geostationary optical satellite and obtain high-accuracy calibration parameters, thus effectively improving the geometric positioning accuracy of satellite imagery.