APPLICATION OF QUICKBIRD SATELLITE IMAGERY FOR 
UPDATING CADASTRAL INFORMATION 
A. Alexandrov, T. Hristova, K. Ivanova, M. Koeva, T. Madzharova, V. Petrova 
GIS SOFIA Ltd., 5 Serdika Str., BG-1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, e-mail: photogrammetry@gis-sofia.bg 
Commission II, WG 11/6 
KEY WORDS: Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Digital, GIS, Application, DEM/DTM, High Resolution, Visualization. 
ABSTRACT: 
The high-resolution satellite images have recently attracted much attention in photogrammetry and GIS. In this paper the main 
approach for updating urban cadastral information using remote sensing and GIS data are being described. 
Single panchromatic imagery from QuickBird, dated 27 March 2003, with 61 cm resolution in nadir is processed. The digital 
photogrammetric software PHOTOMOD 3.51 of RACURS Co. is used. The imagery covers about 270 km? of the territory of the 
Capital Sofia. The DTM from existing contours in *.SHP type with contour interval 5 m is generated. After Least Square adjustment 
  
the ground displacement for normally distributed check points is as follows: mean + 0.82 m, maximal 1.64 m. 
Geometrically correct orthoimagery at 1:5000 scale according to the local technical specifications is produced. 
For a part of the territory a comparative analysis of accuracy between obtained orthoimagery and orthomosaic from aerial 
photographs dated 1 May 2001, is made. The aerial photography includes 18 pictures, taken by aerial survey camera RMK A 15/23 
at 1:4500 scale. The accuracy obtained on X, Y, Z-axes for the check points is + 0.048, + 0.057, + 0.205 m. 
3D visualization of part of Sofia, which is based on two kinds of data — CAD and GIS is presented. The building heights have been 
taken from the available GIS information. 
1l. INTRODUCTION 
GIS SOFIA Ltd. belongs to the Municipality of Sofia, which 
main activity is creation and maintenance of the information 
system and digital models of cadastre and revision of maps in 
digital format. It incorporates nine departments, one of them is 
the Photogrammetry Department. 
One of the assigned to the company tasks is revision of the 
topographic map of Sofia at 1:5000 scale. For this purpose 
information from the following sources has been used: 
e Existing topographic map at 1:5000 scale. 
° Satellite image obtained from QickBird. 
e. Digital cadastral model of Sofia. 
2. LARGE-SCALE TOPOGRAPHIC MAP 
For the highly intensive activity regions of Bulgaria the large 
scale topographic map is produced at 1:5000 scale, and for the 
less intensive ones — high mountain and forest regions — at 
1:10000 scale. 
For production as well for revision of the large-scale 
topographic map aerial sterephotogrammetry is in use. 
The aim of large-scale topographic map is to represent the 
location, form, dimensions and crops of the separate units. All 
situation details and objects visible within the map scale, all 
hydrographic and transport object and structure, as well as the 
terrain relief have also to be shown. 
The large-scale topographic map is intended for the 
investigation, designing and planning of economic activities, for 
the solutions of research problems, as well as for defense 
purposes. 
The content and scale of the topographic map is determined 
according to the purpose of its use in: agriculture, forestry, 
geological surveys, hydrographic and  hydro-melioration 
activities, rural cadastre, etc. 
The large-scale topographic maps for the territory of Bulgaria 
have been produced in 1970 Coordinate System and Baltic Sea 
Level Datum. Each map sheet with dimensions 50 x 50 cm of 
the map at 1:5000 scale covers 2.50 x 2.50 km = 6.25 km” from 
the Earth's surface. The graphical accuracy is not less than 0.4 
mm in the scale of the map (1:5000) or 2 m on the terrain. 
The large-scale topographic map is subject to periodic revisions 
depending on the respective needs. Due to the rapid change of 
the Capital Sofia infrastructure, it was necessary to revise the 
topographic map at 1:5000 scale for a part of the city. 
Main source of information for revision of the map was the 
orthorectified QickBird satellite image. 
3. ADVANTAGES OF THE SATELLITE IMAGES 
Setting out in orbit of the new generation of satellites, providing 
images with high resolution, which are available for civil 
purposes, widens considerably the areas of application of the 
satellite images. In some respects they compete with the aerial 
pictures, especially for small-scale mapping. 
The use of satellite images has certain advantages, such as: 
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