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MAPPING POTENTIAL OF REMOTE SENSING SENSORS 
by 
G. Konecny and W. Schuhr 
University of Hannover 
Institute for Photogrammetry 
and Engineering Surveys 
Federal Republic of Germany 
Invited Paper to the ISPRS-Congress 
Commission IV 
Washington D.C., USA, 1992 
Abstract: 
The cartographic potential of existing remote sensing 
sensors for medium scale mapping has been 
investigated. These activities mainly concern ground 
resolution requirements but also include geometric 
and radiometric aspects. Based on these results, 
requirements for future needs in sensor 
characteristics are specified. 
To detect objects, to be shown a 1:50 000 map, pixel 
sizes of about 3 m are required for monocular 
observation and of about 6 m for stereoscopic 
observation as well as for monocular updating . 
Keywords: Mapping, Sensor, Standards 
1. DEMAND FOR MAPS 
Nowadays every country in the world has an 
increasing demand for maps in quantity and quality, 
to provide Geo-referenced data concerning human 
activities and natural phenomenas , to satisfy the 
different requirements of society, such as 
environmental protection, aid for planning purposes, 
resources management, property protection, etc.. 
The current status of world mapping leaves much to 
be desired, see figure 1. Especially countries, with 
low gross earnings show a lack in medium scale 
mapping. In particular there is a global deficit in 
maps of scale ranges between 1:50 000 and 1:250 
000. According to recent releases of the United 
Nations, the world-wide demand for maps of the 
earth surface at scale ranges of about 1:50 000 is 45 
% and of 1:250 000 is 15 % . The annual progress in 
map production for the 1:50 000 scale range is 2.5 % 
451 
and for the 1:250 000 scale range is 15 %. 
According to practical requirements here the scale 
range 1:50 000 includes 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 maps, 
the scale range 1:250 000 includes the scales from 
1:100 000 to 1:250 000. 
In a study for the requirements for mapping from 
space, prepared for the German government, 
Konecny and Bähr (1979) already estimated, due to 
inadequate map revision,about 50% of the available 
maps are limited in usage. 
Consequently the map coverage reported(55% for the 
1:50 000 and 85% for 1:250 000 scale range), does 
not represent the total mapping stage . The annual 
update rate for maps of the scale range 1:50 000 is 
5% and for maps of the scale range 1:250 000 is 3.5 
%. 
2. MAPPING METHODS 
Up to now map production and map revision is 
carried out by 5 alternative data acquisition methods: 
1. Terrestrial survey: 
In view of the relatively slow speed and high costs, 
the classical surveying method is limited to small 
areas, which eliminates this method for a serious 
world-wide production and revision of maps. 
2. Conventional Photogrammetry 
For the task of the world-wide map production and 
revision of large scales, conventional 
Photogrammetry using aircraft, is the only acceptable 
method to obtain maps or orthophotos. 
However, the global demand for maps at the scale 
1:50 000 cannot be fulfilled by traditional