ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

The 8
th
International Conference
May 1920, 2011, Vilnius, Lithuania
Selected papers
ISSN 2029-7106 print / ISSN 2029-7092 online
ISBN 978-9955-28-829-9 (3 Volume)
ISBN 978-9955-28-827-5 (3 Volumes)
http://enviro.vgtu.lt
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 2011


1451
RECTIFICATION OF SATELLITE IMAGERY FROM GOOGLE EARTH: APPLICATION
FOR LARGE SCALE CITY MAPPING

Birute Ruzgiene
1
, Qian Yi Xiang
2
, Silvija Gecyte
3


1, 3
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saultekio ave.11, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania.
1
Klaipeda state college, Bijn 10, LT-91223 Klaipda, Lithuania.
E-mails:
1
Birute.Ruzgiene@vgtu.lt;
3
silvija.gecyte@vgtu.lt
2
School of computer science and technology, Soochow university, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
E-mail: goodcat110@139.com

Abstract. The rectification of high resolution digital aerial images or satellite imagery for large scale city mapping is
modern technology that needs well distributed and accurate defined control points. The digital satellite imagery,
obtained when using widely known software Google Earth, can be applied for accurate city maps construction. The
method named Five control points is suggested for imagery rectification introducing Prof. Ruan Wei (Tong Ji
University, Shanghai) algorithm. Image rectification software created on the base of suggested algorithm can correct
images deformation with required accuracy, is reliable and keeps advantages in flexibility. Experimental research for
testing applied technology has been executed using GeoEye imagery from Google Earth over city Vilnius.
Orthophoto maps at scales of 1:1000 and 1:500 are generated referring to Five control points methodology.
Reference data and rectification results are checked comparing with results from digital aerial images processing
using digital photogrammetry approach. The image rectification process applying investigated method takes short
time (about 45 minutes) when using only five control points and accuracy of created models satisfies requirements
for large scale mapping.

Keywords: digital photogrammetry, satellite imagery, image rectification, city mapping, orthophoto maps.

1. Introduction

The modern digital photogrammetric technology
combining with image processing techniques allows to
determine the position of an objects in a three
dimensional space from aerial photographs or remote
sensing imagery recorded in digital representation. The
digital image processing has possibility to increase
mapping efficiency because almost all procedures are
automated (Ruzgiene 2007). Therefore, the
photogrammetric processing of images becomes easer
and provides required precise data for Geodesists,
Cartographers, Geographers, Forest Engineers,
Geologists, GIS users, etc.
The digital orthophoto maps are one of broadest
used product and successfully can be incorporated as
background information in GIS (Konecny 2003).
Nowadays a very popular virtual globe map from Google
Earth and geographical information obtained from
satellite imagery is widely used for various survey
applications, Earth surface mapping, monitoring of
environment disasters, etc.
The integration of data from aerial images or
satellite imagery with appropriate resolution in most
digital maps, cartographic and geographic data sets is
very desirable (Ewiak and Kaczynski 2010). Raw digital
images contain internal geometric distortions that results
from the image acquisition process. These distortions can
arise from the sensors plane tilt, variations in sensor
altitude, Earth curvature, lens distortion, terrain relief and
others. Therefore original (row) imagery needs for
rectification and transformation (Manual 2004, Wolf and
Dewitt 2000). A correctly processed digital map is free of
significant geometric distortion and transformed to the
local used projection and coordinate system.
Professor Ruan Wei from Tong Ji University,
Shanghai, China has been introduced the reliable and
practical method (Five Control Points Rectification of
Digitized Image) for creating city map at scales of 1:1000
or 1:500. The one of methods for generation of reliable
rectification model for city maps construction is
announced in Japan patent P2000-298430A (Ruan 2008).
There images rectification processes requires more than
nine control points and the accuracy cant satisfied the
need of the mapping at a scale, e.g. 1:500.
The aim of research is to perform the comparison test
integrating data sets from aerial photography at a scale
1:6000 and satellite imagery from Google Earth
investigating the potential and accuracy of the suggested
Five control points method for getting highest city
modeling efficiency.


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2. Methodology, algorithm and software description

The effects of camera tilt raise the images geometric
deformation. Such effect can be eliminated applying
appropriate digital images rectifying method for precisely
and reliably correction the image planes to object plane.
Using the suggested method "Five Control Points"
can be constructed varied scale city map and follows the
digital photogrammetric method for rectification of
digitized images with correction of deformations.
The theoretical basis applied in algorithm is the
interpolation using surface splines. Image rectification
results fits very well for large scale maps, under of only
five rectifying points. The accurate digital rectification,
which gradually corrects the deformation avoiding
deviation that results from surfaces translating or rotating,
can be performed. Results shows that using high
resolution imagery any survey staff can create city map
accurately. Presented method is reliable and could be
used in practices.
The image of various deformations, including
coordinate conversion, scale deformation, spin and
translation, is rectified using the one of a formula for
corrections (Ruan 1988). For each point on the digital
image, use the following formula applicable to calculate
the independent points x and y component of weighted
deformations (Ruan 2008):

, ln ) , (
1
2 2

=
+ + + =
N
i
i i i
r r F Cy Bx A y x W

(1)

where
2 2 2
) ( ) (
i i i
y y x x r + =
, . 5 N
Formula (1) is applied in calculation of A, B, C, F
(i = 1, N), where total unknowns quantity in rectification
model is N+3. Deformation of N control points is known.
Therefore N equation could be constituted. Adding three
balance equations all the unknown variables can be
solved out.
Characteristic of the software. The software, based
on "Five Control Points algorithm and created by author
Qian Yi Xiang, is simply in operating, only a little pick
and data inputting are need for rectification an image, as
well as not very skilled operator is required. The
rectification can be completed within a short time. For
example, only 510 minutes needs for a photo of size
4050 cm.
The image processing steps are: scanning image into
computer, input control point coordinates identification
(recognition) of rectification points on the photography,
supplying mapping scale, rectification process and
obtaining the corrected images.
Mapping process involves: getting data from
measurements of the rectification points identified in
aerial photograph, digitization according to the scale with
the help of Photo Rectification software, construction the
photo map and drawing map using advanced software
Southern CASS 4.0.
The operating process for samples rectification is as
following: choosing the needed aerial photograph
(images format *bmp), opening the original map file,
choosing the control points area and precisely
identifying control points (Fig 1, a), inputting the data (x,
y) to fileframe (Fig 1, b), setting mapping data (scale,
coordinates system) and start the image rectification
process (Fig 1, c). The procedure is following up
construction of drawing (measurement of topographic
features) having rectification photograph and creation a
map referring to raster images using Southern CASS 4.0
software.



Fig 1. Sample mapping process: a) identifying of control
point, b) framing, c) obtaining of rectification data

3. Experiments and evaluation

The experimental photogrammetric procedures have
been performed using GeoEye satellite imagery from
GoogleEarth over northern part of city Vilnius (Fig 2).




Fig 2. Experimental area fragment of satellite imagery
over city Vilnius from Google Earth


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Aerial photographs were used for determining
control points coordinates. Image material the aerial
photography, taken by analogue aerial camera RMK TOP
in a usual format of 2323 cm at the airplane flying
height 1000 m, were used for digital photogrammetric
processing. Mean scale of analogue aerial photos is
1:6000. The analogue diapositives were converted into
digital format by professional scanner Microtec
ScanMaker 8700 with pixel size of 14 m. Camera
calibration certificate was at the researchers disposal.
Cameras focal length is 53.604 mm.
One of main task was properly selecting control
points for imagery rectification. Using workflow of
photogrammetric digital images processing realised on a
Digital Photogrammetric System (DDPS) (Donnay and
Kaczynski 2005) have been determined selected control
(rectification) points coordinates (Fig 3). The software
DDPS was developed within the framework of a
cooperative project between the Surfaces Laboratory,
Department of Geomatics, University of Liege
(supervising by Prof. J. P. Donnay), Belgium and the
Institute of Geodesy and Cartography, Department of
Photogrammetry (supervising by Prof. R. Kaczynski),
Poland. DDPS is complete and integrated
photogrammetric package with userfriendly interface
and easy for usage.
Imagery rectification procedures were completed at
School of Computer Science and Technology, Soochow
University, China using Five control points method.
Figure 4 shows all selected control points for image
rectification. Results from image rectification are
presented in Fig 5.



Fig 3. Fragment from selecting the control points (a) and
determination of their coordinates (b)


Fig 4. Selected five rectifying (control) points




Fig 5. Results from imagery rectification orthophoto
images at scales: a) 1:1000, b) 1:500


1454
The next step of the investigation has been based on
analysis of rectification results geometric accuracy.
Reference and rectification data are checked comparing
with results from digital aerial images processing using
digital photogrammetry approach. Digital Photo-
grammetric Workstation LISA has been applied for
checking results from images rectification measuring of
about 120 points. Digital photogrammetric software LISA
with extensions of LISA FOTO and raster GIS software
LISA BASIC developed at the Hannover University,
Germany has a lot of possibilities in image processing
(Linder 2009).
The image rectification results for accuracy
evaluation were compared with results from stereoscopic
measurements of the same points. The geometric
accuracy Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of
investigated rectified images at different scales (1:500
and 1:1000) have been received 6 cm and 15 cm
respectively. Such results fulfil the requirements for
topographic mapping at scales of 1:500 1:2000.

4. Conclusions

The digital satellite imagery from Google Earth can
be applied for accurate city mapping when rectification
of imagery has been processed using technology named
Five control points introducing Prof. Ruan Wei (Tong
Ji University, Shanghai, China) algorithm.
The image rectification process takes short time
(about 45 minutes) and using only five control points.
Satellite or aerial images needs well distributed and
accurate defined control points. There arise difficulties
for finding points well seen on imagery. Control points
with significant height differences are not desirable (e.g.
points on buildings roofs, etc.).
The accuracy of created models satisfies
requirements for large scale mapping.

References

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Photogrammetric Software. Users Guide. Department of
Geomatics, University of Liege, Belgium; Department of
Photogrammetry, Institute of Geodesy and Cartography,
Warszawa, Poland. 71 p.
Ewiak, I.; Kaczynski, R. 2010. Potential for Resurs DK-1
satellite data. Geodezija ir kartografija [Geodesy and
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Konecny, G. 2003. Geoinformation Remote Sensing,
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Linder, W. 2009. Digital Photogrammetry. A Practical Course.
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