Geometric Correction and Mosaic Generation of Geo High Resolution Camera Images

TL;DR

This paper introduces methods for geometric correction and mosaic generation of high-resolution satellite images from ISRO's GHRC, improving accuracy and enabling seamless large-area Earth observation mosaics.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive geolocation model, calibration procedures, and algorithms for geometric correction, band registration, and large-scale mosaic generation for GHRC imagery.

Findings

Achieved 100-meter resolution mosaics of India with high geometric fidelity.

Improved pointing and location accuracy through in-flight calibration.

Developed algorithms for correcting mosaicing errors and seamless image stitching.

Abstract

The Geo High Resolution Camera (GHRC) aboard ISRO GSAT-29 satellite is a state-of-the-art 6-band Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) imager in geostationary orbit at 55degE longitude. It provides a ground sampling distance of 55 meters at nadir, covering 110x110 km at a time, and can image the entire Earth disk using a scan mirror mechanism. To cover India, GHRC uses a two-dimensional raster scanning technique, resulting in over 1,000 scenes that must be stitched into a seamless mosaic. This paper presents the geolocation model and examines potential sources of targeting error, with an assessment of location accuracy. Challenges in inter-band registration and inter-frame mosaicing are addressed through algorithms for geometric correction, band-to-band registration, and seamless mosaic generation. In-flight geometric calibration, including adjustments to the instrument interior alignment angles using ground reference images, has improved pointing and location accuracy. A backtracking algorithm has been developed to correct frame-to-frame mosaicing errors for large-scale mosaics, leveraging geometric models, image processing, and space resection techniques. These advancements now enable the operational generation of full India mosaics with 100-meter resolution and high geometric fidelity, enhancing the GHRC capabilities for Earth observation and monitoring applications.