THE LOW COST REMOTE SENSING SYSTEM "LARSS" FOR 
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING 
AND PHOTOGRAMMETRIC APPLICATIONS 
H. Rüdenauer 
University of Essen 
Germany 
Commission |, Working Group | / 2 
KEY WORDS: Scanner, Video, Environmental Monitoring, Low Cost Remote Sensing System 
ABSTRACT: 
Airborne Remote Sensing Platforms are highly developed and expensive systems to meet all the diffe- 
rent requirements of the users as for spectral bands, resolution and geometric accuracy. 
With those systems data and images of large areas can be obtained in a short time. For smaller projects 
- for example in the field of environmental monitoring or large scale mapping for construction purposes, 
where actual information is needed - a inconcruity between the cost of the airborne mission and the vo- 
lume of the project can arise. 
The platform is for use on unmodified light fixed wing aircrafts (Cessna 172) which means a considera- 
ble cost reduction. Different sensors (photographic and digital) ca be used simultaniously. The main at- 
tention directs to the test of multiband videosystems and to the data analysis of a prototype color line 
scanner. 
The development of the new platform took place in the background of the availability of PC based digital 
processing systems (softcopy photogrammetry) and photogrammetric image scanners at a moderate 
price. 
The aim of the complete system is to make airborne photography, photogrammetry and remote sensing 
available to smaller projects which could not afford these technics before. 
1. INTRODUCTION U.S: Ulliman, 1970, Marlar,1967, Woodcock, 1976), so- 
me actual activities in Germany (Martin, 1990). Most of 
the actual contributions deal with video systems (Eve- 
Photogrammetry and remote sensing have penetrated ritt, 1990, Hutchinson, 1990). 
into a lot of disciplines in the near past. this may be be- 
cause of the availability of images which fit the interests 
of these disciplines (e. g. satellite images) or because 
of the improved flexibility and affordability of the proces- 
sing tools (analytical plotters, digital image processing 
systems). 
What is new is the availability of a complete system of 
simplified photogrammetry as mentioned before toget- 
her with an increasing demand for image information 
from new user groups. 
With the future "reduction" of photogrammetry to a "pro- 2. REQUIREMENTS TO THE SYSTEM 
gram package" in conjunction with standard computer 
equipment (digital photogrammetry) the spreading of 
photogrammetric and remote sensing methods will conti- 
nue ("democratization of photogrammetry" (Leberl, 
1992)). 
2.1 Platform Requirements 
The requirements to the platform design can be divided in- 
to two groups: the first group stands for the cost effecti- 
| : veness, the second group for the performance: 
In this trend of "photogrammetry for everybody" fits very ess group p 
well a simplified low cost sensor platform for individual 
Mn a. - independence of a special aircraft 
applications by new user groups. 
- optimized and adapted for an aircraft type because 
of a stable mounting without influenceing the aero- 
To avoid special modified aircrafts, the camera format dynamic conditions. 
has to be reduced, which means the application of 70 
mm cameras. Other sensors (video, multispectral, ther- 
b. - platform correction and control for vertical images 
mal cameras, scanners) are also possible. 
- navigation system (video and GPS controlled) 
- camera control (pin point) and registration of projec- 
The use of 70 mm cameras is not new of course. A lot of tion centres 
articles from the 60 th and 70 th can be found (mostly - simultanious data collection with different sensors 
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B1. Vienna 1996