datasets with increasing dimensionality. This trend began
with the use of multi-temporal interferometric datasets
from satellites ERS and RADARSAT. A further increase in
dimensionality now exists through increasing research
interests involving the use of multi-temporal, multi-polari-
metric data derived from experimental platforms such as
the E-SAR airborne system operated by DLR. This trend
will enable data from future satellites, such as ALOS and
RADARSAT 2, to be fully exploited.
Techniques supporting this high dimensionality are multi-
temporal speckle reduction processes, coherence meas-
urement and polarimetric signature techniques. An impor-
tant example of speckle reduction is an annealing
technique that produces an image segmentation with
common region boundaries, as far as is possible. Coher-
ence is a feature that measures the similarity of two com-
plex SAR images. It is now fundamental to many applica-
tions, although these are constrained by the satellite
repeat cycles available. Recently, coherence techniques
have been extended for use with fully polarimetric radar
data and spectacular results have been achieved that iso-
late returns from particular scattering mechanisms. It is
likely that these multi-polarimetric techniques will produce
an explosion of new applications in the next few years, in
the same way that interferometric data has over the past
decade.
Systems for Integrated Geoinformation Production
(WG 11/5)
A working group was set up to consider the design of
processing systems for specific processes or applica-
tions which involve the use of multiple sensors and
image processing techniques, for example for monitoring
crop growth, and look at integration of techniques for
correction and analysis, standards for systems and
methods of design and of testing performance. It was
specifically intended to involve commercial organisations
who carry out this type of work for clients. The working
group was unable to develop these aspects but there
have been important developments in the global and
regional aspects of integrated production through the
projects of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy
(IGOS) and a session at the Congress will focus on this
type of project.
Integration of Image Understanding into Cartographic
Systems (WG Il/6)
In the research arena, work continues on the design and
implementation of automated and semi-automated carto-
graphic feature extraction (CFE) systems. These systems
have reached a level of competence at which rigorous per-
formance evaluation is required to truly understand their
characteristics. A main thrust of this Working Group has
been the definition and dissemination of meaningful evalu-
ation standards for CFE systems.
Equipment manufacturers and data producers are looking
seriously at automated systems, in terms of in-house
development and for licensing technology. While current
applications of CFE automation are fairly limited, the
demand for such technology is high. We expect to see
more examples of automated applications in production
systems within the next four years.
International Archives of Photogrammerty and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part A. Amsterdam 2000.
At the workshop held in Paris, the major theme was to
encourage participants from government, academe and
industry to share requirements and research results in the
area of performance evaluation of image understanding
systems for geospatial data capture. Included in this theme
were issues in predictive analysis of internal quality meas-
ures in automated processes and end-user quality metrics
and post processing analysis of automated systems.
Practical and Implementation Issues in Digital
Mapping (WG 11/7)
WG 1l/7 has been concerned solely with practical and
implementation issues in digital standard data transfer for-
mats, especially image data transfer formats. A small com-
mittee met in Neubrandenburg (Germany) in December
1998 to produce a first draft of the Image Transfer Stan-
dard (ITS). This document proved to be very effective in
attracting attention and influencing ISO and OGC.
From 1999 through to 2000 the WG has collaborated with
the Open GIS Consortium (OGC), and the International
Standardisation Organisation (ISO), mainly through Prof.
Wolfgang Kresse. These activities may be summarised as
follows:
- he proposal by ISPRS WG l/7 will form the two
important components of the ISO/TC211 standard that
has been under development since the first meeting of
the Project Team (project 19124) in March 1999. The
ISO/TC211 standard will be completed by the end of
2001. It is worth mentioning that this is thanks to the
tireless activity of Prof. Wolfgang Kresse, who is an
active member of ISO/TC211.
- The WG has established links with the proponents of
the standard Coordinate Transformation Interface to
the OGC.
WG 1l/7 has worked successfully to gain credibility and
recognition in ISO and OGC and has succeeded in having
ISPRS viewpoints accepted by both organisations. By par-
ticipating in the development of these standards we may
be confident that ISPRS ideas will be included and that the
industry will adopt them as soon as they become public.
Digital Systems for Image Analysis (WG 11/8)
A large number of Digital Photogrammetric Systems (DPS),
including input and output devices with different degrees
of functionality, user friendliness, and automation potential,
are now commercially available. Vendors of DPS include
traditional photogrammetric, but increasingly also remote
sensing and GIS, companies. The traditional photogram-
metric companies are concentrating their resources and
merging, meaning that fewer systems will be available in
future years. However, a major trend may be observed
towards using Windows NT as an operating system.
Modules for automatic interior and relative orientation and
for automatic aerial triangulation (AAT) are operational and
are in daily use in practice. For AAT interactive editing is
necessary, at least as a safeguard against distorted
blocks. The direct acquisition of the image orientation by
means of GPS and IMU is a serious alternative to aerial tri-
angulation for a number of applications and begins to be
used in practical work. Automatic DTM generation has
been accepted in practice for some time, but interactive
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