# Presentation: 259480

## Mapping the Path toDigital Sensor Calibration

**ASPRS Photogrammetry - Part2: Digital Sensor Calibration: Research, Policies, and Standards**
**March 2005**

- Greg Stensaas
- USGS EROS
- stensaas@usgs.gov

## History

**USGS has been calibrating aerial film cameras since 1973**
**USGS actively involved with establishing requirements and standards for photo imagery for many years **
- Film camera standards since 1950’s with the National Bureau of Standards
- National Map Accuracy standards since the 1940’s
**In 1999 ASPRS panel asked USGS to develop standards, policies and guidelines for the digital aerial mapping community**
**USGS Land Remote Sensing Program has a cross-center project team actively working to answer ASPRS recommendations**

**Notes:**
USGS is very excited about the potential that exists within the digital imagery arena. The technology is allowing possibilities of yesterday become developments of today and realities of tomorrow. The remote sensing abilities and applications are strong and this group is in the forefront of establishing and creating an strong remote sensing future for the Government and the industry wide users of remote sensing data.
The commitment of the USGS strong as shown via a RSTG taking the best of the best across USGS and making them available to support remote sensing systems development and calibration, data acquisitions/quality/archive, and support technology and application development and support.

## ASPRS Recommendations

**The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should continue to calibrate film mapping cameras using the present calibrator and the Simultaneous Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC) program. **
**Initiate the design, development, and implementation of a digital camera calibration capability at the USGS (est. required investment - $4 M). **
**Conduct research efforts in order to support a reliable and cost effective transition to digital acquisition systems (est. required investment - $1 M) **
**Initiate the design, development and implementation of an in situ (flight) calibration process. **

## ASPRS Recommendations

**The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should continue to calibrate film mapping cameras using the present calibrator and the Simultaneous Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC) program. **
**Initiate the design, development, and implementation of a digital camera calibration capability at the USGS (est. required investment - $4 M). **
**Conduct research efforts in order to support a reliable and cost effective transition to digital acquisition systems (est. required investment - $1 M) **
**Initiate the design, development and implementation of an in situ (flight) calibration process. **

## The USGS Responds.....

## One: Continue Operating OSL

***“******The USGS Optical Science Laboratory (OSL) should continue to calibrate film mapping cameras using the present calibrator and the Simultaneous Multiframe Analytical Calibration (SMAC) program.”***
**Ongoing today**
- USGS has invested in upgrades and continues to do so
- Hardware upgrades, electronics, software
**USGS in year-long search for glass plates**
- Finally identified Agfa plates that will work
- Investing in multi-year glass plate supply
- Continuing to investigate film and electronic alternatives
**The USGS is committed to continuing OSL operations for foreseeable future**

## Two & Three: Research/Build Digital Capabilities

***“******Initiate the design, development, and implementation of a digital camera calibration capability at the USGS (estimated required investment - $4 M).”***
***“******Conduct research efforts in order to support a reliable and cost effective transition to digital acquisition systems (estimated required investment - $1 M)”***
**USGS has already invested in the following research capabilities**
- Pictometry for Small/Medium-Format calibration cage
- OSU for *In-Situ* methodology for digital (*and* potentially film?)
- SDSU-developed MTF tools; lab & *in-situ; *
**Requesting funding for additional capabilities**
- Additional development & validation *in-situ*
- Build & expand USGS sensor laboratory at EDC
- Further work on MTF tool; radiometry?
**(more in Future Plans – Jon Christopherson briefing)**

## Four: In-Situ Calibration

***4.******	******“Initiate the design, development and implementation of an in situ (flight) calibration process.”***
**USGS working with OSU, SDSU, industry, manufacturers to test and validate several different methods**
**Developed in-situ ranges for independent validation**
- Incorporates EROS instrumentation capabilities
**USGS actively involved with industry and NASA SSC in Digital Airborne Product Verification (see Phil Rufe’s presentation)**
**Digital Sensor manufacturers and work this and are interested in making things happen**
**Very promising!**

## Five: Satellite Data 

***5. “A calibration/verification process must be established for satellite imagery.”***
**USGS, partnered with NASA and NGA, leading the Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation (JACIE) team. **
- On-going for four years now
- Hosted at USGS Headquarters in Reston
- JACIE evolving to address airborne and international datasets
- USGS leading CRSSP implementation
**USGS also involved in other Satellite Cal/Val**
- Landsat(s) 5 & 7, EO-1 ALI and Hyperion, LDCM
- International – Surrey Satellite, CBERS-2, ResourcesSat-1
- Active in CEOS WGCV, EuroSDR, ASPRS/ISPRS
- RObotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO)

## Six: Develop Standards

***6.******	******Develop a U.S. Standard for camera and sensor calibration. ***
**USGS has had standards for other data for years**
- Existing National Map Accuracy Standards served paper maps for decades
- DOQ standards served initial digitized aerial imagery
- The limited capabilities of the sensors and processes originally used in producing digital orthoimagery led to simpler standards (primarily geometry)
**The USGS is leading an effort to define new Digital Remote Sensing Data standards**
- Desire ASPRS and industry participation
- Possibility for international standards w/ ISPRS

## Six: Develop Standards (cont.)

- Inter-Agency Digital Imagery Work Group (IADIWG) established
- Cooperating agencies:  BOR, BLM, COE, EPA, FSA, FWS, NIST, NGA, NOAA, NRCS, USFS, and USGS
- Kickoff meeting held and draft charter developed
- Draft specifications, guidelines, and standards for digital image acquisition being worked
- Host workshop to review draft specifications, guidelines, and standards – Summer 2005
- Draft Final presented to ASPRS PECORA 16 - October 2005
- Other potential efforts
- Other digital data types and data formats
- Help compile aerial data requirements and contract vehicles
- ASPRS PDAD Geospatial Image Quality Commission

## Seven: USGS Funding

***Adequate funding should be sought in order to ensure the continued operation of the Optical Science Laboratory (OSL), as well as to provide for the improvements and extensions described in the preceding recommendations.***
**OSL calibrations are paid by fees charged to camera owners**
- Fees likely to increase in FY06
- This will be first fee increase since 1999
**USGS funding has been limited**
- Many tasks – limited funds
- Project is established and ready for growth
- Optimistic for future
- Inter-agency funding support?