Developing CARTODEM

A National DEM Using CARTOSAT-I Stereo

November 2005

National Remote Sensing Agency

Hyderabad

Sub-Committee on Projectisation of CARTODEM

The Study Team Report and the Projectisation Document (for generating
national level DEM and orthoimage) submitted by Director,NRSA to Chairman,
ISRO was discussed at the ISRO HQ.
A Sub-Committee has been constituted by Dr. V. Jayaraman,
Director,EOS to develop the CARTODEM Project considering the postlaunch experiences.
Dr P.S.Roy
NRSA
Sri B.Gopala Krishna
SAC
Dr. S.S.Rao
RRSSC (N)
Dr J.Krishnamurthy
EOS
Sri ASRKV Murali Mohan NRSA

Convener
Member
Member
Member
Member-Secretary

Executive Summary

IRS-P5 (Cartosat-I) satellite, launched on May 05, 2005, is designed to deliver highresolution spatial data of better than 2.5m in stereo. The twin cameras, with a fixed
base-to-height ratio better than 0.6, image the terrain through in-track stereo almost
simultaneously. The primary mission goal is to generate a Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
at national level for the benefit of various user communities of remote sensing and
cartography.

Following the IRS MC recommendation, the Director, NRSA has constituted a Study
Team to assess the user requirements from the application and data processing
perspective. The team, through intense deliberations, examined the possible DEM
resolutions, height sensitivity of the mission, level of automation, and adequacy of
control points, processing issues and arrived at the specifications of the national level
DEM from Cartosat-I (referred to as CARTODEM).

CARTODEM will be developed through automatic processing for 1 arc-second posting

using Stereo Strip Triangulation Software (SSTS), developed by Space Applications
Centre, Ahmedabad. The product will depict the surface height, (that is the maximum
local height -but not of bare earth), with elevation accuracies of 8m. The DEM will have
WGS-84 ellipsoid as horizontal and vertical datum. Generation of orthoimage at 1:25000
is also recommended. The pre-requisites for embarking in project mode are identified.
Through this, a seamless, homogeneous DEM at the country level would be realized for
the first time.

The production will be taken up immediately to realize it in about a year, by employing

high throughput systems and suitable software augmentations. This document identifies
the work elements, implantation methodology, infrastructure, and budgetary
requirements.

CONTENTS
Project Summary
1.

Introduction
Study Team Recommendations
Need for DEM

2. Project Objectives
Befits to the stakeholders
Key Differentiators
3. Implementation methodology
Product Development
Essential stages
4. Manpower
5. Work Components
Role of the Contributing Centres
6. Time Goals
7. Product Specifications
8. Project management
9. Facility Definition
10. Budget

Appendix I: System specifications

Appendix II: Storage Requirements
Appendix III: Worksheets of costing
Appendix IV: WorkFlow Schematic
Appendix V: Process Benchmarking Guidelines
Appendix VI: Office Order
Acknowledgments

1.0

Introduction

The Department of Space (DOS) is committed to meeting the nations needs for current base
geographic data and maps. The objective of the present mission is to provide a current, accurate and
nationally consistent elevation information in spatial domain derived from stereo data of CARTOSAT
satellite series. This can serve as a foundation for interpreting all geo-information and developing
derived data sets continuously. This is expected to be of immense help for RS&GIS applications
community across the country. The users will be able to access the DEM data by tiles or by defining a
geographic area of interest in which case, a seamless mosaic of contiguous tiles is delivered.
The National DEM set contains the following layers:
Elevation
Ortho-image
The development of digital elevation models and digital ortho-imagery at 1:25,000 scale will provide a
level of detail and accuracy highly suitable for medium to large scale mapping and analysis.
The DEM product will be extremely useful in the GIS environment, providing a dependable base for
multiple corresponding theme layers and enabling terrain characterization with parameters like slope,
drainage network, watershed definition and contour maps. Topographic data are fundamental to
resource modeling and will be an essential element of the database.
The ortho images will be useful as raster base maps to define and demarcate the features like:
landuse/land cover, topography, roads, rivers, open water bodies and forest density. By virtue of in
built correspondence between DEM and ortho-image, a few perspective views will be generated.
These views provide the user an appreciation of terrain relief and other visually discernible
characteristics.
The purpose of constituting the National DEM study team is to study the quantum of the effort, and
suggest a mechanism to realize the DEM at the national level. Scope of the envisaged project is to
generate DEM for entire India using the stereo data from the about-to-be-launched CARTOSAT-I.
It is anticipated that the CARTODEM will be useful in a variety of ways. First, the models provide an
elevation reference of the existing topographic conditions. They will provide valuable information for
preparing land management plans, enforcing environmental regulation, identifying critical areas
within the watershed and developing inundation vulnerability maps.
Second, DEM product will be extremely useful in the GIS environment, providing a terrain model to
facilitate drainage network analysis, watershed demarcation, erosion mapping, contour generation
and quantitative analysis like volume-area calculation. Topographic data are fundamental to
watershed modeling and is a critical ingredient of the project.
Third, DEM will enable generation of ortho rectified images in the DP facility on operational basis. The
elevation profiles will help quantify the local displacements (due to relief), for further carrying out
geometric corrections. Other applications include scene simulation, fly through visualization and for
military application.

This will be the first time in the country that this type of elevation information will be created for land
use and mapping application and therefore could be featured as a national model. The DEM thus
realized is intended to be available for users.
Study Team Recommendations
Following the IRS MC recommendation, the Director, National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) has
constituted a Study Team to assess the user requirements from the application and data processing
perspective (Annexure 1). The team, through intense deliberations, examined the possible DEM
resolutions, height sensitivity of the mission, level of automation, and adequacy of control points,
processing issues and arrived at the specifications of the national level DEM from CartosatI(CARTODEM).
The Study Team, Constituted by Director, NRSA, recommended that: (1)The Level-IA DEM product
should be an operational data product; (2) The Level-IB DEM to be initiated simultaneously to meet
the user requirements for better quality DEMs in a phased manner by ISRO/DOS Centres with
entrepreneurial participation.; (3) The Level-II DEM to be taken up to meet the site-specific user
requirements for better quality DEMs in a phased manner by ISRO/DOS Centres with entrepreneurial
participation.
WGS 84 for both plannimetry and elevation of CARTODEM data; elevations defining the topographic
surface.
Based on the recommendations of the inter-centre task team constituted by Director, NRSA,
Hyderabad a project proposal for preparation of National Digital Elevation Model (NDEM) has been
submitted to Secretary, DOS by NRSA. In order to review and recommend to Secretary, DOS for
approval of the project, a meeting was held by Director, EOS on September 26, 2005 at ISRO HQ,
Bangalore. After detailed deliberations, under the overall guidance of Dr V Jayaraman, Director, EOS,
Dr PS Roy, Dy. Director, NRSA (RS&GIS), NRSA and Dr PK Srivastava, GD, RESIPA, SAC a Task Team
comprising of Shri Murali Mohan, NRSA, Shri B Gopalakrishna, SAC and Dr S Srinivasa Rao, RRSSC-N and
Dr J Krishnamurthy, ISRO Hqrs has been constituted to technically fine-tune the project proposal taking
into account the outcome of discussions and prepare the final document. This document identifies the
work elements, implementation methodology, responsibilities, infrastructure, and budgetary
requirements.
The sub-committee has recommended that CARTODEM with national coverage be taken up using the
indigenously developed software. The project is targeted to be realized in 1 year.

Need for DEM

Photogrammetric methods are used for digital terrain elevation data collection over a very wide range
of scales and accuracies. Over relatively small areas where the required sampling density is very high
and the specified height accuracy is very demanding, ground survey methods remain extremely
important and highly applicable, e.g., for specific building sites. However, as soon as data has to be
collected over extensive areas of terrain and especially if the terrain is rough, then photogrammetric

methods come into their own. In the context of acquiring terrain elevation data over larger areas,
photogrammetry-based approaches have a merit as they are largely automated.

It is seen from the global scenario that the photogrammetric methods offer the greatest flexibility in
data collection for terrain modelling in that the density of sampling, the accuracy of the elevation
data, etc., can all be varied according to the needs of the user. This can be done by utilizing
photography/imagery taken at different scales and at different flying heights and by employing various
alternative types of photogrammetric instrumentation of varying capability in terms of accuracy,
degree of automation, etc. By contrast, field survey methods are constrained to large-scale modelling
of limited areal extent and are less flexible in terms of the accuracy, data sampling patterns, etc., that
can be implemented, though these deficiencies will be less apparent to a civil engineer or surveyor
often interested in a single specific site covering a relatively limited area.

On the wider (regional or national) scale, again photogrammetric methods of data acquisition offer
much to surveying and mapping agencies, especially in terms of acquiring dense terrain elevation
data of a reasonable metric quality by automated means covering huge areas of terrain. These
methods have been implemented in many countries, e.g., in Western Europe in conjunction with
statewide programmes of orthophotomapping, and in North America where highly automated systems
such as the GPM-2 have been introduced into national mapping agencies and collect elevation data
on a massive scale. The alternative method of acquiring digital elevation data on a national scale
through the digitization of the contours on existing topographic map series and subsequent
interpolation will almost inevitably result in elevation data of a lower metric quality.

In India, there is an increasing demand for DEM and its derivatives from users. The requirements are
highly variable: they range from coarse resolution DEMs for draping satellite data fly through simulations
and, at the other end, a fine DEM that enables applications like line-of-sight. Priorities for most users
seem to be: full coverage, reliability ease-of-use, and off-the-shelf availability. A segment of
applications (like city modeling) demand custom-made DEMs that include surface details, and
structural data.

There is considerable urgency, to generate a base line DEM product at national level and make it
available to RS & GIS and mapping communities as an over-the-counter (OTC) product. Considering
the huge effort involved in making the product for the vast stretches of the country, a moderate cost
immediate solution needs to be planned. The product, so generated, may be further fortified with
terrain semantics in a phased manner.
Cartosat-1 is the first cartographic application satellite in the IRS- series that has the stereo viewing
capability and provides the stereo pairs within the same pass. This has been possible with two identical
panchromatic cameras, mounted on the satellite to view the earth in two angles of 5deg (AFT
camera) and +26deg (Fore camera) in the plane of the orbit. Each camera has nadir resolution of
about 2.5meters and cover a swath of about 30km. The stereo pairs provide a base to height ratio of
about 0.6m and this gives a height resolution of about 4m. The satellite has been conceived and
realized with state of the art technologies and was launched into polar sun-synchronous orbit by PSLV
C6 launch vehicle on 5th May 2005. The satellite was established in the orbit and the imageries have
started coming from the very second day of the launch. The complex data processing and product

generation systems were made ready for generating the products. From the products, with the height
information available, it is possible to generate absolute maps of 1: 25000 scale and thematic maps
upto better than 1:10000 scale. The applications of these products are in the areas of Cartography,
GIS, land use management, rural, town & urban planning, Construction activities of Dams, roads, rail
lanes, tanks, canals, etc., river interconnections, and also strategic applications.
Considering the above, this project has been proposed for creation of DEM at national level.

2. Project Objectives
The Department of Space (DoS) is committed to meeting the nations needs for current base
geographic data and maps. The objectives of the mission translate to providing current, accurate and
nationally consistent elevation information in spatial domain derived from stereo data of CARTOSAT
satellite series. This can serve as a foundation for interpreting all geo-information and developing
derived data sets continuously. This is expected to be of immense help for RS&GIS applications
community across the country.
The CARTODEM set contains the following layers: Elevation and Orthoimage
The development of digital elevation models and digital ortho-imagery at 1:25,000 scale will provide a
level of detail and accuracy highly suitable for medium to large scale mapping and analysis.
The DEM product will be extremely useful in the GIS environment, providing a dependable base for
multiple corresponding theme layers and enabling terrain characterization with parameters like slope,
drainage network, watershed definition and contour maps. Topographic data are fundamental to
resource modeling and will be an essential element of the database.
This will be the first time in the country that this type of elevation information will be created for land
use and mapping application and therefore could be featured as a national model.

Benefits to the Stakeholders of CARTODEM Project

It is anticipated that the CARTODEM will be useful in a variety of ways. First, the models provide an
elevation reference of the existing topographic conditions. They will provide valuable information for
preparing land management plans, enforcing environmental regulation, identifying critical areas
within the watershed and developing inundation vulnerability maps.
Second, DEM product will be extremely useful in the GIS environment, providing a terrain model to
facilitate drainage network analysis, watershed demarcation, erosion mapping, contour generation
and quantitative analysis like volume-area calculation. Topographic data are fundamental to
watershed modeling and is a critical ingredient of the project.
Third, DEM will enable generation of ortho rectified images in the DP facility on operational basis. The
elevation profiles will help quantify the local displacements (due to relief), for further carrying out
geometric corrections. Other applications include scene simulation, fly through visualization and for
military application.

The stakeholders of the Project are DoS users, State RS Centres, Research bodies, the industry,
international bodies, the academia etc.
The perceived applications are RS&GIS applications, base mapping, direct and primary NRDB layers;
environmental risk and hazard assessment modeling, what-if scenarios simulation; Utility mapping,
corridor analysis, reconnaissance surveys, project estimates, adherence to global standards; and
familiarization & exploitation of 3D information and many more.
The success of CARTODEM Project needs to be evaluated after its implementation, by verifying the
above benefits have actually been realized.

Key Differentiators
CARTODEM Project will be implemented as one-time rigorous exercise to create this important
database. Some of the differentiators are:

Development of DEM through photogrammetric approach;

Use of space-borne in-track stereo strips of length 500 km and beyond;
Employ open standards so as to enable inter-operability;
Induction of public-private partnership, in areas wherever it is feasible, to establish costeffective and tenable solutions, designed to be responsive to stakeholders; and
Adoption of a multi-layered approach to translate the needs into an outcome-based initiative.

CARTODEM Specifications vis--vis SOI Elevation Data

FEATURE
Process

CARTODEM
Satellite photogrammetry

SOI
Aerial Photogrammetry

Information
Plan reference
Heights

Ellipsoidal heights (WGS84)

WGS84
Surface heights (DSM)
(Bare-earth heights can
optionally be generated)
Mass points & breaklines

MSL heights
Everest
Bare-earth (DTM)

Strategy
Data collection
Instrumentation
Height
accuracy

Plan accuracy
Cell size
Coverage
DEM
generation

Dynamic
contouring,
point
heights
Largely automatic
Manual
Indigenous software
Analogue & semi-analytical
plotters
8 m, yielding contours at of 7m if CI is 20m (general case);
20m Interval;
15m in high hills when 40-50m
CI is adapted.
1. Accuracy= 1/3rd of Contour
Interval 2. 1:50 000 scale info
assumed.
3. At 1: 25000, 10m contours
are drawn. However, Partial
coverage at this scale.
15m
-(12.5m is the reading error at
1:50 000 scale)
1 arc sec
NA
(~30m at equator);
National
Direct,
through
matching;

National
image Interpolated from digitization of
contours, points heights and
other breaklines

3. Implementation Methodology
Given the vast size and complexity of the task, it is proposed to implement the CARTODEM project
through SST based autonomous DEM generation
The salient specifications of the product (as production goals) are summarized below:

ELEMENT
Process
Strategy
GCPs

Cartodem
Largely automatic
No Zoning
GCPL points covering the entire country

Software
Height accuracy
LE90
Plan &Height reference

SST (modified)
8m
(Contour Interval 20m)
WGS84 Elliposid

Plan accuracy CEP90

15m

Cell size
Semantics

1 arc sec
Automatic extraction, interactive validation

Coverage
Indicative applications

National
Slope, aspect, drainage maps, orthorectification upto
1:25000, GIS applications, fly-thru

3.1 CARTODEM GENERATION

The objectives of the SSTS are: (1) model the orbit using the GCPL control points , (generate the DEM
and (3) to create a library of Triangulated Control Points (TCPs) for the entire country in stereo mode,

Stereo Strip Triangulation Software (SST)

In order to realize the CARTOSAT1 Mission goals, and corresponding requirements; Cartosat-1 Data
processing System (CDPS) has been configures along with Stereo Strip Triangulation Software (SSTS) as
one of its key software constituents. SSTS involves implementation of mathematical algorithms and
handling large volumes of satellite data in raster format, design and development of Graphical User
Interface (GUI) and database related application. SSTS has a mix of iterative and automatic
computing components and requires balancing of I/O intensive and computation-intensive activities.

The objectives of SST system are recalled here:

Creation of library of Triangulated Control Points (TCPs) for entire country in stereo mode
Generation of coarse resolution DEM for individual segments of various stereo passes
Refinement of satellite orientation parameters
A user-friendly GUI and Scheduler

SSTS Specification
No. of passes for a day
Pass length (long pass)
Segment Length
No. of Segments
No. of GCPs required

1 long path or 2 small paths (over India)

Max 3,000 km approx
500 km (may vary)
6 (for non-cloudy pass of 3,000 km length)
15-20 per segment (Minimum 6 distributed controls)

Two essential stages precede the production of the DEM.

Stage 1: SSTS software enhancements (MSST)

SSTS needs to be enhanced for increased matching speed through data parallelism on multi-cpu
machine.
Necessary s/w tools for joining (mosaicing) the DEMs, organizing the tiles In the national frame,
subsetting the DEM depending on map tile extents, and any other modules required to realize the
product will be delivered to the production facility by Space Applications Centre.
Benchmarking of the software and system using Cartosat data will have to be completed within 1
month after the establishing the Production Facility. A detailed operators manual from the s/w
developers is essential for commencing the production.
The benchmarking process is outlined in the Annexures.

Stage 2: GCPL adequacy

Presently, under GCPL project about 60 % of the geographic area is surveyed for establishing the
control network using DGPS technique. It is presumed that entire country including the coastline,
boundary regions, the north-eastern states will be surveyed and the GCPL will be refined to reflect the
control data of 100% national coverage. This means that the gap areas need to be filled with priority.
By the GCPL Project.
The deliverables include:
DEM tiles extents of 1 square degree
Corresponding orthoimage at 1:25000 scale map extents
Archives include metadata like triangulated check point accuracy for plan and height).
The DEM and orthoimage are to be mosiaced for seamless completeness wherever required.
The applications include 20m contouring, ortho at 1:25000 scale extents, fly-through, slope, aspect
maps.
The SSTS outputs (the EO parameters, RAD files) form inputs to CARTODEM Facility. These are to be
accessed from existing SST system through backup till the fibre connectivity is established.

4.0 MANPOWER
1. Departmental: Necessary scientific manpower of the Department will be identified and
redeployed to form a team to realize the Product.
2. 3 programmers (2 for 5 month duration for MSST development and the third for 12 months)
3. 4 JRFs / Research Associates will be recruited for the Project duration.

5.0 Work Components

1. Overall Project management, coordination
Production manual, QC Guidelines, Archival Strategy, Work Allocation, Data Distribution
to WorkCentres (NodalCentre)
2. Data ingest
3. DP Software (SSTS)
Augmentation, Benchmarking, Operations Manual (SAC)
4. DP software (COTS)
Procurement, Process Customisation (NodalCentre)
5.Control Network
Completing the GCPL for entire country (GCPL Project)
6. DEM Production: Inputs from existing SST will be transferred to CARTODEM facility, DEM is
generated through Modified SST (MSST), breaklines are automatically collected, and validated
interacitively.
7. Comprehensive QC by the Project QC Team
8. Post-processing (like mosaicing, compressing and archiving)
9.Financial Management
10. Policy Guidance by the MC / PMB.

Role of the Contributing Centres (SAC/RRSSCs/NRSA)

To procure the systems and establish the facility
To develop project implementation plan
To suggest criteria for evaluation of the deliverables
To provide handholding support to the work-centres.
To archive the products after quality verification.
To enhance the SSTS to meet the time goals of the Project;
Project Management of the designated work-component at WorkCentres.

6. Time Goals
CARTODEM to be realized in ONE year; subject to the availability of cloud-free data.
Schedule (Quarter-wise)
Activity
Systems Procurement
Data procurement
Benchmarking
Production

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4 & Q5

7. Product Specifications
The following table provides the product specifications of CARTODEM project.

DEM Specifications
Posting Interval
1 arc-second (~30m at equator)
Datum
WGS-84 Ellipsoid
Plan accuracy
CEP90 15m
Height accuracy
LE90 8m (surface heights)
Orthoimage Specifications
Spacing
2 metre
Datum
WGS-84 Ellipsoid
Plan accuracy
CEP90 15m
Projection
As per NNRMS standard

8. Project Management
An appropriate inter-centre project team will be identified to execute the project.
A CARTODEM- Project Management Board will be constituted to oversee the project
implementation including progress monitoring, budget, inter-centre related activities etc.
The overall policy guidance will be provided by NRR-MC

9. Facility Definition
The broad requirements are tabulated here. SSTS Development Team desires to have a replica of highend production systems (SSTS operations) at SAC also, to support the production facility.
To optimize the use of resources like mass storage, peripherals, it is planned to configure the systems at
one single place.
The high performance servers are meant for executing the compute and i/o intensive DEM matching
using the MSST software.
The photogrammetric workstations are for data import, pre-processing, photogrammetric operations,
quality checks, and post-processing. Two of them will be located at RRSSCs for DEM generation.
System Requirement for CARTODEM FACILITY
(For Production, Quality Checks,, Post-processing operations; all co-located at NDC)
Sl.No.
1.

Item Description

Quantity

High Performance Servers

(2 for DEM Computing and 1 for prototyping)
Development Workstations

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
12.
13.
14.

Graphics visualization servers

10
TB
Network
Attached
Storage
(NAS)/SAN/Unified storage
I/O Server
24 PORT 10/100/1000 Mbps Auto sensing , etc
400 / 800 GB capacity LTO3
based Tape
Library, backup software, media for backups.
Photogrammetric workstations
IP + DPWS software
(1 license on network and 2 for RRSSCs)
A0 Size Raster plotter with UV Printing & A3 size
Laserjet Printer
Wall mounted stereo display unit with attached
Desktop system for DEM editing
Compression software
Other consumables, peripherals, etc
Total (in lakhs)

Cost In
lakhs

4 No.

300
12

4 no.
1 No.

50
70

1 No.
1 set
2 Nos.

12
5
16

3 Nos.
3 Nos.

12
30

1 No.

16

1 No.

12

1 no.

4
18

3 Nos.

557

10. Budget

Cost Elements for CARTODEM Activity

S.No.

Activity

Details

1 GCPs #
2 Systems cost (as listed in the Table)
3 Cost of s/w maintenance for 2 yrs.(incl compression)
4 Cost of h/w maintenance for 2 yrs.
10% p.a.
5 Manpower cost(4 JRFs/Sci.Assts + 4programmers

Sub Total
Project Management@10% except on Data

Project Cost ( in lakhs)

# To cater for uneven distribution of GCPs, if any.

10% project management
Data cost is not included.

Unit rate
(Rs.)

Qty

Total (Rs.)
in Lakhs

6600

500

300000

33.00
557.00
12.00
111.40
19.36

713.40
71.34

784.74

Annexure -I

Detailed Specifications of the Systems listed in the Table:

1. HIGH PERFORMANCE SERVER (HPS) Qty. 3
INTEL XEON @ 2,0 GHz OR
Intel Itanium 2 @ 1.6 GHz
Number of Processors : 16
RAM : 32 GB
INTEGRATED ETHERNET PORT,SCSI ADAPTER,
INTEGRATED DUAL CHANNEL WIDE ULTRA3 COMPATIBLE
RAID CONTROLLER WITH 512 MB CACHE, RAM 1 GB
WIDE ULTRA 320 COMPATIBLE SCSI DRIVE CAGE (WITH FAN)
TWO HOT PLUGGABLE POWER SUPPLIES,
HOT PLUGGABLE REDUNDANT FAN,
HDD : SCSI or FC-AL 15 K rpm 146 GB minimum Six
External RAID Tower with 1 TB capacity
Consol 17 CRT with keyboard and Mouse
Tower model
I/O Devices : CDROM
PCI Slots : minimum Five
Intendend Use: 2 of them will be for MSST operation and the third for prototyping at SAC.
2. DEVELOPMENT WORK STATIONS ( DWS)- Qty. 4
PROCESSOR: INTEL PENTIUM IV / Xeon @ 3.8 GHz OR BETTER,1GHz front side bus; MEMORY : 1 GB DDR1400 ECC RAM ; Integrated dual channel Ultra 320 controller; 3 x 146GB Ultra 320, 10Krpm HDD ;
Combo (CD RW & DVD R) drive; Integrated Gigabit Ethernet ; USB 2.0 /PS/2 keyboard and optical
mouse ; 22 CRT/LCD Flat panel monitors ; Windows XP Professional edition.; Linux Red Hat ES 3.0 fro
W/S
Intended Use: For developing / supporting MSST, ABL software, and related tools.
3. Graphic Visualisation Software (GWS)- Qty. 4
PROCESSOR: INTEL PENTIUM IV / Xeon @ 3.8 GHz OR BETTER,1GHz front side bus; MEMORY : 1 GB DDR1400 ECC RAM ; Integrated dual channel Ultra 320 controller;
High-end graphics card (stereo-ready),
Windows XP Professional edition.; Linux Red Hat ES 3.0 fro W/S
Intended Use: For automatic breakline extraction, validation
4. NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS)
Storage Capacity : minimum 10 TB, RAM : 2 GB; Multiple RAID controller for maximum I/O
performance; SCSI / FC-AL HDD with 15 K rpm; Minimum two RAID controller with minimum 1 GB RAM;
Network Optimized Operating system; Intel based NAS processor preferred; Dual 1 GB NIC; Rack
mounted NAS system with rack; Dual Power supply
5. INPUT OUTPUT SERVERS (IOS)- Qty. 1
Intel Xeon 2 Processors 3.2 GHz; RAM : 4 GB; Operating System : Linux / Windows XP
Display Monitor :22 Stereo ready CRT ;
Graphic Card :256 MB RAM (WILDCAT/ NVIDIA)
73 GB/146 GB SCSI / FC-AL Hard Disk 15K RPM four unit
WIDE ULTRA 320 COMPATIBLE SCSI DRIVE
Hardware RAID controller with 1 GB RAM
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet dual port
USB 2.0/ SCSI ports; Keyboard and Optical mouse with scroll
I/O Devices :
CD ROM; CD Writer
DVD RW drive
SDLT; 3.5 Floppy

4MM DAT Drive; External SCSI Hard Disk 146 GB

Blue Ray disk
Linux Operating System ES 3.0
8. Photogramemtric workstations - 3
Dual Intel Xeon processors @ 3.2GHz processor; 1GHz front side bus
4GB DDR1-400 ECC RAM expandable to 16GB; Integrated dual channel Ultra 320 controller with RAID
3 x 146GB Ultra 320, 15Krpm HDD in RAID 0 or 1; 16X DVD ROM drive; 16X DVD+1-RW dual layer;
Wildcat realizm 800 with 640 MB RAM
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet; 700watts power supply; USB/PS/2 keyboard and optical mouse
22 CRT and L1955 19 Flat panel monitors (dual monitors)
Windows XP Professional edition.
IR Emitter & Glasses; Photogrammetric Mouse
Intended Use: 1 of them will be at PF for QC and the rest for locating at RRSSCs.
9. Photogrammetric (IP + DPWS) Software Suite Qty. 3
RPC model support, DoS recognized COTS;
Intended Use: 1 of them will be at PF for QC and the rest for locating at RRSSCs.
10. Printer/plotter
A3 size Laserjet Printer(384 MB RAM, internal HD, 1200-2400 DPI, PostScript capability with Tracer
A0 Size Raster plotter with UV Printing
Intended Use: For ortho printing, Report generation.
11. Wall mounted stereo display unit with attached Desktop system Qty. 1
Intended use: for DEM editing, large-area visualisatin.

12. Compression software for lossless coding and archiving - Qty. 1

Intended Use: For compressing the Orthoimages for effective storage and dissemination.

Appendix-II

`Storage Estimates

Number of 1:25 000 mapsheets: 19540

Orthoimage space in Mbytes: 19540 * 2bytes/pixel * 26000 * 26000/ (2*2) = 6 298 561 MB
DEM space: 19540 *450 seconds * 450 /(1*1) * 4bytes/posting = 15094 MB
Or total archival space ~ 7 TB
Working space

= 3 TB

Total space = 10 TB per for CARTODEM

Hence, a lossless compression needs to be carried out for efficient archival and transmission.

Appendix-III

Manpower costing for the project

Costing for deparmental manpower has not been included
4 JRFs/Scientific Assistant would be recruited for a period of 2
years for the project.
3 programmers (2x5months +1x12months)
S.No. Activity
Unit Rate Quantity
1 JRFs/Scientific Assistants
11000
96
2 Programmers
40000
22
Manpower cost for the project (in Rs.)

TOTAL
1056000
880000
1936000

Appendix IV: Work-Components

Existing Cartosat DPS

GCPL

SST Operations
(RAD files, Model parameters)

Modified SST (MSST)

Automatic DEM Matching

Automatic Breaklines
(ABL)

Post-processing
Time-composition,
Mosaicing, tiling, etc.

NAS operations
Archiving DEM, Orthoimage

Benchmarking

It is mandatory that benchmarking is done to check/refine the product specs (and establish
the operational work-plan) before embarking on the productionisation of this national level
project.
The benchmarking mechanism and the schedules are documented here. The following
parameters (for minimum two areas covering the mixed terrain of forests, water, urban) are
suggested:
1. Extent of Each area: 1 square degree
2. Minimum and desired control points for triangulation
3. Triangulation accuracy at the independent check points (at least twice the number of
control points): GCPs from GCPL database are to be sourced for this. In case of
inadequacy, fresh acquisition has to be initiated.
4. DEM matching speed (points/minute)
5. Breaklines (adequacy, and accuracy)
6. DEM evaluation (visual and quantitative).
7. DEM editing mechanism
8. DEM Mosaicing: geometric quality
9. Orthorectification: accuracy, seam (geometric and radiometric)
10. Time compositing
11. Total system time and elapsed time for the process

Acknowledgments:
Following RSAM_MC recommendation, an inter-centre Study Team was constituted by Director,
NRSA in Jan 2005. This team, after several intense deliberations, brought out a technical
document. The inputs from terrain-specific case-studies form the backbone of this document.
On the recommendation of the Director, NRSA, a projectisation proposal is developed. These
proposals are presented to Chairman, ISRO by the Director, NRSA. In addition, it was presented
to the IRS-P5 PMB by the Convenor of the Study Team. Based on the observations made by the
Chairman, a meeting was held in ISRO HQ, Bangalore to discuss the proposal. The meeting was
headed by Dr.V. Jayaraman and attended by Dr. PS Roy, Dr. P.K.Srivastava, Dr.J Krishnamurthy,
Dr.. S.S.Rao and Sri Murali Mohan. The report was presented, and deliberated for possible
refinements and optimizations. Consequently, a sub-committee was identified by the Director,
EOS to incorporate the suggestions and finalise the proposal considering the post-launch
experiences. The sub-committee comprised of Sri B.Gopla Krishna, Dr.J Krishnamurthy, Dr.S.S.Rao,
Sri Murali Mohan with Dr.P.S.Roy as its Convenor. The suggestions/inputs of the participating
members are incorporated through a rigorous consultative process. In this endeavor, many
colleagues directly and indirectly participated/assisted:

Dr. V.Jayaraman, Director, EOS

Sri K.Kalyanaraman, GM, NRSA
Dr. P.K.Srivastava, GD,SAC,
Dr. Ajai, GD,SAC
Dr. J.Krishnamurthy, ISRO HQ.
Dr. S.S.Rao, RRSSC(N),
Dr. Satish Jayanti, NRSA
Sri. Vinod Bothale, RRSC(J)
Sri B.Gopala Krishna, SAC
Sri B.Narender, NRSA
Sri B.Sadasiva Rao, NRSA
Sri B.Laxman, NRSA
Dr. S.K.Pathan, SAC
Dr. MV Ravi Kumar, NRSA
Sri V.Raghu Venkataraman
Dr. R.Nand Kumar,SAC
Sri Y.P.Rana,SAC
Sri Joseph Arokiadas, GH,NRSA
Dr. N.Aparna, NDC,NRSA
Ms. Sailaja Nair, NDC, NRSA
Dr. Kartikeyan, SAC
Sri P.Krishnaiah. NRSA
Sri Gagan Bansal, NRSA
Smt. T.Jayasydha,NRSA
Dr. K.Venugopla Rao, NRSA
Sri T.P.Srinivasan, SAC
Their participation/assistance/inputs is gratefully acknowledged.