4.5 Mapping using GIS
For better visual interpretation of linear features in
conjunction with their back ground texture, merging
of pan data with that of LISS-3 is found helpful.
Terrain mapping needs derivation of cultural
features, elevation changes and thematic
information from the derived DEM and Orthoimage.
This task can be better achieved by using a GIS.
Basic tools required for terrain mapping are slopes,
surface area, volume, line of sight coverage,
draping, perspective view etc., can be efficiently
derived/obtained in the GIS environment.
5.0 Early results from IRS-1C Data Evaluation
for Cartographic purposes
The first sets of cloud free stereo pairs from IRS-
1C Panchromatic data were taken for generating
DEM and Orthoimage. The data specifications are
given in Table-2. The stereo pairs were generated at
National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA),
Hyderabad, using an operational software
developed by SAC. The data has undergone only
radiometric corrections, no geometric corrections
are applied. Three mapsheet areas (47M/13/SE,
56A/1/NW and 53K/13/SW) are considered. Since
the overlap between stereo images is only 6096, full
map sheet area is not available for any of these
map sheets. Hence an area of 7.5" X 7.5" is
selected nearer to the above map sheets (8096 of
total map sheet area is covered), through corner co-
ordinates. Ground control points are selected from
each stereo pair, and they are digitised from
available 1: 25,000 and 1: 50,000 scale mapsheets.
Out of these four/five are used as control points and
remaining five/six are used as check points. Table-3
gives the RMS values of accuracy obtained from the
model on check points. This clearly shows, the
model accuracy depends on the input GCP
accuracy. GCPs collected from 1: 25,000 scale map
resulted a better DEM accuracy than the GCPs
collected from 1: 50,000 scale, as expected.
DEM and Orthoimages are generated for the map
sheet areas using the software system described in
the previous section and detailed evaluation is
carried out. Results are shown in Table 4. This error
is a result of all the errors namely, DEM error,
interpolation error and model error.
A qualitative evaluation of Orthoimage for set 1 is
done by
(a) overlaying all linear features of map, with the
help of a tracing at 1:25000 scale, which almost
sits onto the Orthoimage with the above accuracy.
Further, Orthoimage showed the recent
information like new roads/constructions and other
elevation changes like quarrying etc., which can be
used for updating.
(b) Comparing the draping of (i) the Orthoimage
over derived DEM from the stereo pair and (ii)
Orthoimage over map derived DEM. Draping from
map derived DEM showed blocky
effect/discontinuties, because of lack of continuous
information of elevation, whereas the other draping
showed smooth variation of the terrain, since it has
the continuous information of terrain elevations. The
map DEM is generated by digitising the 10m
contours from the 25000 scale map.
(c) Comparison of elevation contours, showed a
good match of peaks and valleys of elevation, from
both DEMs derived from image and map.
6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations
The early results described in section 5.0 can be
categorised in three classes:
1. The reconstruction of terrain profile. This is
related to the precision of height determination for
various terrain conditions viz. highly undulating,
moderately undulating and flat. It is shown that in
case of moderately undulating terrain conditions
with moderate contrast the terrain model can be
automatically reconstructed to meet requirements of
1:25,000 scale mapping. The experiments described
in 5.0 were conducted with stereo pairs acquired
with approx. 0.5 base to height ratio. It can be
concluded that for regions having moderate
radiometric contrast the elevation information
derived from IRS-1C imagery is sufficient for
1:25,000 scale mapping. For other types of terrain
this conclusion comes from the capability of
achieving any base to height ratio upto 1.1.
It has been seen that the breaklines and breakpoints
can be identified with high confidence in manual
mode. Identification of breaklines and breakpoints in
automatic mode is a subject of further research.
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996