scholarly journals Glacier topography and elevation changes from Pléiades very high resolution stereo images

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 4849-4883 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Berthier ◽  
C. Vincent ◽  
E. Magnússon ◽  
Á. Þ. Gunnlaugsson ◽  
P. Pitte ◽  
...  

Abstract. In response to climate change, most glaciers are losing mass and hence contribute to sea-level rise. Repeated and accurate mapping of their surface topography is required to estimate their mass balance and to extrapolate/calibrate sparse field glaciological measurements. In this study we evaluate the potential of Pléiades sub-meter stereo imagery to derive digital elevation models (DEMs) of glaciers and their elevation changes. Our five validation sites are located in Iceland, the European Alps, the Central Andes, Nepal and Antarctica. For all sites, nearly simultaneous field measurements were collected to evaluate the Pléiades DEMs. For Iceland, the Pléiades DEM is also compared to a Lidar DEM. The vertical biases of the Pléiades DEMs are less than 1 m if ground control points (GCPs) are used, but reach up to 6 m without GCPs. Even without GCPs, vertical biases can be reduced to a few decimetres by horizontal and vertical co-registration of the DEMs to reference altimetric data on ice-free terrain. Around these biases, the vertical precision of the Pléiades DEMs is ±1 m and even ±0.5 m on the flat glacier tongues (1-sigma confidence level). We also demonstrate the high potential of Pléiades DEMs for measuring seasonal, annual and multi-annual elevation changes with an accuracy of 1 m or better. The negative glacier-wide mass balances of the Argentière Glacier and Mer de Glace (−1.21 ± 0.16 and −1.19 ± 0.16 m.w.e. yr−1, respectively) are revealed by differencing SPOT5 and Pléiades DEMs acquired in August 2003 and 2012 demonstrating the continuing rapid glacial wastage in the Mont-Blanc area.

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2275-2291 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Berthier ◽  
C. Vincent ◽  
E. Magnússon ◽  
Á. Þ. Gunnlaugsson ◽  
P. Pitte ◽  
...  

Abstract. In response to climate change, most glaciers are losing mass and hence contribute to sea-level rise. Repeated and accurate mapping of their surface topography is required to estimate their mass balance and to extrapolate/calibrate sparse field glaciological measurements. In this study we evaluate the potential of sub-meter stereo imagery from the recently launched Pléiades satellites to derive digital elevation models (DEMs) of glaciers and their elevation changes. Our five evaluation sites, where nearly simultaneous field measurements were collected, are located in Iceland, the European Alps, the central Andes, Nepal and Antarctica. For Iceland, the Pléiades DEM is also compared to a lidar DEM. The vertical biases of the Pléiades DEMs are less than 1 m if ground control points (GCPs) are used, but reach up to 7 m without GCPs. Even without GCPs, vertical biases can be reduced to a few decimetres by horizontal and vertical co-registration of the DEMs to reference altimetric data on ice-free terrain. Around these biases, the vertical precision of the Pléiades DEMs is ±1 m and even ±0.5 m on the flat glacier tongues (1σ confidence level). Similar precision levels are obtained in the accumulation areas of glaciers and in Antarctica. We also demonstrate the high potential of Pléiades DEMs for measuring seasonal, annual and multi-annual elevation changes with an accuracy of 1 m or better if cloud-free images are available. The negative region-wide mass balances of glaciers in the Mont-Blanc area (−1.04 ± 0.23 m a−1 water equivalent, w.e.) are revealed by differencing Satellite pour l'Observation de la Terre 5 (SPOT 5) and Pléiades DEMs acquired in August 2003 and 2012, confirming the accelerated glacial wastage in the European Alps.


2012 ◽  
Vol 226-228 ◽  
pp. 1958-1964
Author(s):  
Weian Wang ◽  
Shu Ying Xu ◽  
Gang Qiao

This paper investigates the geo-positioning accuracy of across-track QuickBird stereo imagery in Shanghai, China, where the terrain relief is very low about 3m but with very high buildings up to 380m. The rational function model (RFM) and the bias-compensated RFM with different parameters are employed to do accuracy analysis with different configurations of ground control points (GCPs). The systematic errors in vendor provided RPCs are revealed and discussed. The results of bias-compensated RFM show that different strategies in terms of the number of GCP and different geometric correction methods should be taken into consideration in order for a better and reasonable positioning accuracy in the three directions. The results also show that the best accuracy of 0.6m in horizontal direction and 0.8m in vertical direction can be acquired by the second-order polynomial model when GCPs are more than 8.


Drones ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Kalacska ◽  
Oliver Lucanus ◽  
J. Pablo Arroyo-Mora ◽  
Étienne Laliberté ◽  
Kathryn Elmer ◽  
...  

The rapid increase of low-cost consumer-grade to enterprise-level unmanned aerial systems (UASs) has resulted in the exponential use of these systems in many applications. Structure from motion with multiview stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry is now the baseline for the development of orthoimages and 3D surfaces (e.g., digital elevation models). The horizontal and vertical positional accuracies (x, y and z) of these products in general, rely heavily on the use of ground control points (GCPs). However, for many applications, the use of GCPs is not possible. Here we tested 14 UASs to assess the positional and within-model accuracy of SfM-MVS reconstructions of low-relief landscapes without GCPs ranging from consumer to enterprise-grade vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms. We found that high positional accuracy is not necessarily related to the platform cost or grade, rather the most important aspect is the use of post-processing kinetic (PPK) or real-time kinetic (RTK) solutions for geotagging the photographs. SfM-MVS products generated from UAS with onboard geotagging, regardless of grade, results in greater positional accuracies and lower within-model errors. We conclude that where repeatability and adherence to a high level of accuracy are needed, only RTK and PPK systems should be used without GCPs.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín M. C. Belart ◽  
Etienne Berthier ◽  
Eyjólfur Magnússon ◽  
Leif S. Anderson ◽  
Finnur Pálsson ◽  
...  

Abstract. Sub-meter resolution satellite stereo images allow the generation of high resolution, accurate digital elevation models (DEMs). Repeated acquisitions of stereo images from Pléiades, in October 2014 and May 2015, and from WorldView2 (WV2), in February 2015, over Drangajökull ice cap (NW-Iceland) are used to estimate the geodetic glacier-wide mass balance on sub-annual time scales. Relative adjustment of the DEMs is performed with and without a pre-existing lidar DEM as source of ground control points (GCPs), and resulting statistics in snow-free and ice-free areas reveal similar vertical accuracy


Author(s):  
Raad Awad Kattan ◽  
◽  
Farsat Heeto Abdulrahman ◽  
Sami Mamlook Gilyana ◽  
Yousif Youkhna Zaya ◽  
...  

The progress in modern technologies such as precise lightweight cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the more user-friendly software in the photogrammetric field, allows for 3-D model construction of any structure or shape. Software now achieves in sequence the processes of matching, generating tie points, block bundle adjustment, and generating digital elevation models.The aim of this study is to make a virtual 3-D model of the college of engineering /University of Duhok. Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The data input is vertical and oblique imagery acquired by UAV, ground control points distributed on the surrounded ground, facades, and roof. Ground control points were measured by the GPS RTK system in addition to the reflectorless total station instrument. The data is processed mainly using Agisoft PhotoScan software as well as the Global Mapper and the ReCap software. The output is a 3-D model, digital elevation model, and orthomosaic.Geometric and visual inspections were carried out. Some imperfections appeared on the sharp edges and parapets of the building. In the geometric accuracy of selected points on the building, the maximum standard deviation in the coordinates was ±4cm. The relative accuracy in distance measurements were in the range of 0.72% to 4.92 %


Author(s):  
C. C. Carabajal ◽  
J.-P. Boy

We have used a set of Ground Control Points (GCPs) derived from altimetry measurements from the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) to evaluate the quality of the 30 m posting ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) V3 elevation products produced by NASA/METI for Greenland and Antarctica. These data represent the highest quality globally distributed altimetry measurements that can be used for geodetic ground control, selected by applying rigorous editing criteria, useful at high latitudes, where other topographic control is scarce. Even if large outliers still remain in all ASTER GDEM V3 data for both, Greenland and Antarctica, they are significantly reduced when editing ASTER by number of scenes (N≥5) included in the elevation processing. For 667,354 GCPs in Greenland, differences show a mean of 13.74 m, a median of -6.37 m, with an RMSE of 109.65 m. For Antarctica, 6,976,703 GCPs show a mean of 0.41 m, with a median of -4.66 m, and a 54.85 m RMSE, displaying smaller means, similar medians, and less scatter than GDEM V2. Mean and median differences between ASTER and ICESat are lower than 10 m, and RMSEs lower than 10 m for Greenland, and 20 m for Antarctica when only 9 to 31 scenes are included.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 863-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gerstenecker ◽  
G. Läufer ◽  
D. Steineck ◽  
C. Tiede ◽  
B. Wrobel

Abstract. The accuracy of 4 Digital Elevation Models (SRTM30, GTOPO30, SRTM3 and local DEM produced from aerial photogrammetric images) for the volcanoes Merapi and Merbabu in Java, Indonesia is investigated by comparison with 443 GPS ground control points. The study confirms the high accuracy of SRTM3 and SRTM30, even if the a priori defined 90% confidence level of 16 m for the SRTM3 is not always achieved in this mountainous region. Accuracy of SRTM30, GTOPO30 and SRTM3 is mainly dependent on the altitude itself and the slopes' inclinations, whereas the photogrammetric DEM exhibits constant accuracy over a wide range of altitudes and slopes. For SRTM3 and SRTM30 a statistically significant correlation between heights and aspects of the slopes is also found. Accuracy of DEMs which are generated by interpolation on a finer grid does not change significantly. Smoothing of DEMs on a coarser grid, however, decreases accuracy. The decrease in accuracy is again dependent on altitude and slope inclination. The comparison of SRTM30 with GTOPO30 exhibits a significant improvement of SRTM30 data.


Author(s):  
L. Barazzetti ◽  
F. Roncoroni ◽  
R. Brumana ◽  
M. Previtali

The use of rational functions has become a standard for very high-resolution satellite imagery (VHRSI). On the other hand, the overall geolocalization accuracy via direct georeferencing from on board navigation components is much worse than image ground sampling distance (predicted < 3.5 m CE90 for WorldView-3, whereas GSD = 0.31 m for panchromatic images at nadir). <br><br> This paper presents the georeferencing accuracy results obtained from a single WorldView-3 image processed with a bias compensated RPC camera model. Orientation results for an image collected over Milan are illustrated and discussed for both direct and indirect georeferencing strategies as well as different bias correction parameters estimated from a set of ground control points. Results highlight that the use of a correction based on two shift parameters is optimal for the considered dataset.


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