Analysis of Properties of Reflectance Reference Targets for Permanent Radiometric Test Sites of High Resolution Airborne Imaging Systems

Abstract

Reliable and optimal exploitation of rapidly developing airborne imaging methods requires geometric and radiometric quality assurance of production systems in operational conditions. Permanent test sites are the most promising approach for cost-efficient performance assessment. Optimal construction of permanent radiometric test sites for high resolution airborne imaging systems is an unresolved issue. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of commercially available gravels and painted and unpainted concrete targets for permanent, open-air radiometric test sites under sub-optimal climate conditions in Southern Finland. The reflectance spectrum and reflectance anisotropy and their stability were characterized during the summer of 2009. The management of reflectance anisotropy and stability were shown to be the key issues for better than 5% reflectance accuracy.

Designing an in-flight airborne calibration site using experience from vicarious radiometric satellite calibration

“…21 The performance of various target types was studied in. 17 Depending on their nature, keeping the target properties invariant over time can pose a challenge, so efforts need to be put into maintenance.…”

“…In the context of satellite calibration, a useful list of required and desired properties for calibration targets have been compiled in. 17 The list states that the site should preferrably have a surface with:…”

Permanent target for optical payload performance and data quality assessment: spectral characterization and a case study for calibration

“…8 In this section, the reflectance spectrum is acquired with the SVC HR1024 spectrometer, which measures the upwelling radiance of the surface and converts it to the reflectance by comparison of the radiance to that from a panel with a known reflectance (such as a white panel). However, the spectral properties of the gravel targets in the open air, such as the reflectance anisotropy and the spectral uniformity, are principal questions to be answered.…”

“…As many authors have stated, 1,2 to derive high quality data from remote sensing images, the sensors must be time-stable instruments with well-understood characteristics. 8 Because high efficiency is required to conduct operational processes during the lifetime of the payload, permanent targets are gaining significant interest since they have the advantages of year-round availability, lower maintenance operations, and a long lifetime. Therefore, an indirect approach with the aid of ground targets was demonstrated as an effective method to monitor the sensor performances and to ensure the data quality of the remote sensing payload during long-term data collection.…”

Portable Imagery Quality Assessment Test Field for Uav Sensors

“…e.g. Honkavaara et al (2006), Honkavaara et al (2008), Honkavaara et al (2010), . In response to lack of the portable test field for the image quality assessment of sensors mounted on UAVs, that could be used in different conditions and for gran variety of sensors, the research team from Military University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Geodesy Institute, Department of Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry has designed and prepared special test field-The Portable Imagery Quality Assessment Test Field (PIQuAT), that will fulfil the gap in this area.…”