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DEVELOPMENT OF VIDEO-RATE IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM IN 
; INDIA 
BY 
CG. C.. JAN 
VIDEO AND IMAGE PROCESSING ENGG. DIVN. (VIPED) 
Space Applications Centre 
Indian Space Research Organisation 
AHMEDABAD 380053 INDIA 
ABSTRACT 
Today, data collected by remote sensing satellites are so volumi- 
nous that their processing may take anywhere from a few days to a whole 
month. This may totally upset the programme for which the data are 
being collected and analysed. For instance, cyclone pictures received 
from other sensors would lose all meaning if real time processing was 
not used. | 
VIDEO-RAT E is à very useful concept in real-time image proce- 
ssing applications. These systems are designed using digital video 
techniques and ultra high-speed computational hardware. Video techniques 
are used to convert data into television compatible format which can then 
be viewed on a monochrome or colour monitor for man-machine 
interactions. A digital video frame memory is used as a storage element. 
This, in addition to other computational hardware, is used to carry out 
a number of image processing functions. Apart from their ability for real 
time processing, these systems (designed as stand-alone) are user 
based and cost -effective. 
The growth of video-rate image processing in recent times has 
been spectacular. The 'data-mountains' contain a great deal of 
unprocesSed information in pictorial form and their accumulation is sure 
to grow inthe future. 
A number of image processing systems are being developed at 
the SPACE APPLICATIONS CENTRE (ISRO). This paper gives an over- 
view of technological innovations in this field, a comparison of real time 
vs off-line processing, techniques used and system configurations, 
future technology in this area, and several other related aspects. 
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