International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B4. Istanbul 2004 
  
with different radiometric and scale properties. For example, 
aerial or satellite images may differ from each other with respect 
to scale, spectral range of recording, image quality and imaging 
conditions (weather, lighting). In practice, matching 
heterogeneous images may prove to be more difficult than 
implementing the triangulation of different sensor models. 
Rigorous analysis on the error propagation for cross sensor 
photogrammétric processing is also of great importance since 
the imaging geometry and the accuracies may be different 
among multiple satellites and sensors. However, the difference 
of fitting accuracy of the RPC models to individual physical 
sensor models seems neglectable since the accuracy loss is 
neglectable for the terrain-independent approach. 
8. CONCLUDING REMARKS 
Some high-resolution satellite imagery vendors such as Space 
[Imaging and Digital Globe currently provide the RPCs to end 
users and service providers to allow for photogrammetric 
processing. This technology simplifies the complicated 
photogrammetric mapping process to a great extent, and has 
been proved to be a useful tool for exploiting high-resolution 
satellite images. The RFM may be used to replace the rigorous 
sensor models for many mapping applications because high 
accuracies have been achieved in exploiting images. And the 
scepticism on the accuracy achievable has been replaced with a 
wide the adoption of this technology. 
This paper provides an overview of various aspects in 
developing the RFM, including computational scenarios, 
accuracy assessment, RFM refinement, photogrammetric 
interoperability, and mapping applications. Photogrammetrists 
have overcome restrictions placed on the use of the data by 
vendors using RFM refining methods, which ensure that the 
exploitation results are as accurate as what can be achieved 
using physical sensor models, and are also economical using 
low price products. The RFM provides an open standard for 
photogrammetric interoperability, is not dependent on particular 
sensors, and is extensible for block adjustment. In summary, 
although there are still remaining issues, the RFM is likely to 
become a passkey in geometry modeling of various sensors. 
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