METRIC CAMERA DATA: ASSESSMENT AND POTENTIAL USE AT L'INSTITUT GÉOGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL |
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| Authors: | G Ducher |
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| Institution: | Institut Géographique National, France |
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| Abstract: | A short review is given of the involvement of the Institut Géographique National (IGN) in the European Space Agency Spacelab Metric Camera (MC) experiment. IGN has participated in this project from the early stages of its preparation in 1974. The assessment of MC data has been carried out for both metric and thematic purposes. Using a Matra Traster analytical plotter, a contoured map of Carpentras. included in the European standard test site of Marseille, has been prepared at a scale of 1:100 000 with 100 m and 50 m contour intervals. Preliminary comparison of this map with the topographic data base shows a height accuracy of about 30 m. Orthophotographs have been produced of the same area, at 1:100000 scale and at 1:250000 scale. showing good agreement with the basic line map. An infrared colour pseudo-orthophotograph has been produced for Khartoum (assuming that the ground was flat) and a space map of a desert area of Algeria has been printed at 1:200000 scale, allowing a good comparison with the drainage shown on the existing line map. Interpretation of the MC photography has also been assessed and compared with conventional IGN aerial photography taken over the European standard test site. Due to the low sun elevation and the apparent image motion which affected the MC photography, the result is not as good as was expected. Some linear features of 6m width are visible (for example, roads and hedges) but for positive identification a width of 18m is necessary. It is difficult to determine the extent of cities and land parcels less than 40 × 40m are not visible. However, the MC data can be used for checking and revising some features of small scale maps (smaller than 1:100000). Two experiments have been performed in thematic interpretation, one concerned with land use and the other with forest mapping. Some improvements of the MC are suggested in order to satisfy the major requirements of users while the possibilities of topographic mapping from these data are summarised. |
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