Jon Christopherson SGT, Inc. at USGS EROS Sioux Falls, SD jonchris@usgs.gov Work performed under contract: 08HQCN0005

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Jon Christopherson SGT, Inc. at USGS EROS Sioux Falls, SDjonchris@usgs.gov Work performed under contract: 08HQCN0005

The USGS QA Plan for Digital Aerial Imagery

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OutlineBackground/HistoryThe USGS QA Plan – A Four Part PlanProgress to Date & the FutureAdditional Efforts & Thoughts

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Background & History 2000 - ASPRS study asks USGS to work with digital 2005 – Formed Inter-Agency Digital Imagery Working

Group (IADIWG) 2005 – First presentations of the four-part QA Plan 2005 – Held workshop w/ industry to get feedback 2007 – Began Sensor Type Certifications 2008 – Completed first four sensor certifications

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Four Parts to the Plan Four Major Parts of the Plan: Contracting Guidelines

Properly specifying the data you want Sensor Type Certification

Ensure that a metric camera/sensor will be used Data Provider Certification

Ensure that the vendor can do this kind of work Data Quality Assessment

Ensure that you got what you asked for initially

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Progress: Sensor Type Certification Sensor Type Certification initiated first Certified seven camera/sensors to date:

Applanix: DSS-322, DSS-422, DSS-439 Intergraph: DMC Leica: ADS-40 w/ SH40, SH50, & SH52 heads Microsoft Vexcel: UltraCam-D and UltraCam-X

Three additional vendors have systems in process More in discussion Working with EuroSDR to harmonize efforts

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Progress: Data Provider Certification Process finally outlined

Much discussion & deliberation Reduced from original scope

Final Plan centers around Product Validation USGS to assess accuracy orthoimagery products

Approved ranges to be built across US Sioux Falls range nearing completion In discussion with next two ranges Goal is 6 or more ranges

Accuracy assessment tools to be developed Removes human error, better results

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Range Locations

Sioux Falls

Rolla, MOPueblo, CO

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Sioux Falls Range 34 mi (54.7 km) E-W 53 miles (85.3 km) N-S Complete 12” (30cm)

Orthoimagery cover Sioux Falls city @ 6”

(15cm) City core at 3” (7.5cm) Complete lidar coverage at

>1m posting 80+ signalized control points

Much more non-signalized to be added

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S.F. Range 1st range

Prototype Aerial + satellite

Additional ranges may vary in size

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12-inch (30cm) Imagery

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6-inch (15cm) Imagery

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3-inch (7.5cm) Imagery

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Progress: Specification and Quality Assessment Addresses 1st and 4th part of QA Plan

1) How to properly specify data4) How to assess that product meets those specs

The “Spec & Check Tool” now under development Web based Help generate contract-ready specification language Follow with line-by-line checklist for products

Helps to standardize inputs to industry And standardize expectations!

Initially for use by USGS Liaisons (and partners) Strongly User-Focused Beta fielded by Sep.’09

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Prototype Screen

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Spec & Check Tool Three Main Parts: Specification generator

Assessment methods and tracking Education!

The Educational / Tutorial section is critical! Referred to throughout both halves of tool Good for general education also

Continuous revision and improvement Grows as our industry grows

Got any good ideas for this? Good ideas, references, sources, partnerships always

welcome!

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Additional Efforts & Thoughts USGS EROS continues research into camera

calibration Being approached more people, more varieties USGS Operates two large labs

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Additional Efforts & Thoughts Some consumer cameras can be calibrated & used Smaller cameras can be calibrated easier

Use smaller targets Software improvements make calibration quicker &

easier Chip densities growing, detector pitch shrinking

Calibrate more often? Opportunities for calibration services? Operators/flyers do their own calibrations?

Where will it all go? What are future sensors, platforms, and operations?

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Final Thoughts The industry continues to advance

Technology not slowing down! The USGS trying to keep up (& keep abreast)

More work needed More research needed And more collaboration, communication, and

cooperation