INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CARTOGRAPHIC SUITABILITY OF IMAGERIES FROM SPACE-BORNE CAMERAS

Abstract

Cartographic requirement of satellite imagery has been a subject of investigation in recent years, to explore the possibility of its uses for mapping purposes. .0f late, experiments have been conducted, using metric cameras onboard different satellite missions, such as Skylab, Spacelab and Salyut-7, to explore the possi-bility of using space photography for photogrammetric purposes. In this dissertation, investigations have been carried out to evaluate the cartographic potential of Spacelab and Salyut-7 photography. The various experi-ments conducted include - ( 1) Generation of planimetric control using 2-D a.ffine and conformal transformation and 3-D projective transformation. (ii) Planimetric control generation using the standard to of aerial-triangulation. (iii) Possibility of height determination. It has been found that spatial co-ordinates of points on Spacelab photography can be determined with RMSE of + 26 m to + 41 in in position and + 26 m to + 84m in height, whereas on the Kate-140 photography points can be obtained with RMSE of + 60 m to + .159 m in position and + 62 m to + 117 m in height. From these results it has been concluded that Spacelab photography can be used for stereo-compilation iv or updating of maps at 1:100,000 or smaller scales with cklineation of contours at 100 m contour interval. Kate-140 photography results indicate that these may be used for updating maps at 1:250,000 or smaller scales, with delineation of contours at 250 m interval only. Single imagery of Spacelab photography can be used for thematic mapping at 1:250,000 or smaller scale, whereas Kate-140 and MKF,6 imageries can be used for thematic mapping at 1:500,000 and 1:400,000 or smaller scales respectively It is further concluded that space photogrammetry is a feasible media for small scale mapping of desired cartographic accuracy to fill the gaps of poorly mapped regions and updating the small scale maps in developing countries.