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International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part BS. Istanbul 2004 
  
4.2 KODAK DCS Pro 14n system 
The second camera system being introduced in more details 
within this paper is the already mentioned Kodak DCS Pro 14n, 
which is a camera system available on market since June 2003. 
In contrary to most other digital cameras this camera model uses 
a CMOS sensor. From Blanc (2001) the performance of todays 
CMOS active pixel sensors is close or even better than their 
CCD equivalents. Just recently (March 2004) a slightly 
modified version, the Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n was made 
available, where the ISO range was upgraded compared to the 
predecessor model DCS Pro 14n. Nonetheless, version updating 
is possible by replacing the CMOS matrix sensor and the 
analogue electronics part. The main technical specs of the DCS 
Pro 14n are given in Table 1. More detailed technical 
specifications can be seen from the manufacturers WWW site at 
www.kodak.com (2004). 
Besides the discussed topics of base-to-height ratio and image 
motion effects, the maximum feasible image frame rate is of 
concern for use of digital sensors in airborne environment. In 
this case the DCS Pro 14n allows for the internal buffering of 
approx. 20 full resolution images with an maximum image 
recording rate of 1.7 frames / sec as given in the specification 
sheets. If the image data are stored external (CompactFlash card 
or computer hard disc) the maximum frame rate is highly 
dependent on the used hardware. Dependent on the available 
equipment frame rates from 0.6 - 5 sec / frame are documented. 
Since now, only few of those cameras are tested in airborne 
photogrammetric environments. To the authors knowledge tests 
were already done from IGI Germany (with a modified version 
of DCS Pro 14n), the Mexican photogrammetric company 
GeoSistemas Aereos (GeoSisA) and  GeoTechnologies 
consultancy at Bath Spa University College (Petrie 2004). 
Experiences from the first two system installations are covered 
in more details in the following. 
DCS Pro 14n at GeoSistemas Aéreos (GeoSisA) The Mexican 
flight company GeoSistemas Aércos (GeoSisA) is using the 
Kodak DCS Pro 14n since September 2003 mainly for 
production of large area coloured orthoimage mosaics. Since 
that time different projects with several thousand sqkm are 
already flown. As an example a production project to survey for 
clandestine garbage dumps in three of the biggest municipalities 
in Mexico (Tijuana, Rosarito and Puerto Penasco) should be 
mentioned. The Tijuana-Rosarito block covered an area of 
65km by 40km with 21 lines (60% forward overlap and 30% 
sidelap) and 75 to 50 photographs per line (as function of the 
longitude) making a total of 1057 exposures for the complete 
block. The blocks were flown at an average of almost 4000m 
above ground, with some variations dependent on differences in 
terrain height. At this flight level, each photograph covered 
almost 4000m wide and 3000m forward. Based on the used AF 
Nikkor 35mm f/2D lens the obtained image scale is 1:110000. 
The flight was designed in order to obtain a ground sample 
distance (GSD) of 80cm, but in high contrast areas spatial 
resolution was higher. In order to keep the use of the system as 
flexible as possible an outside platform was designed, which 
can be placed outside any available airplane and command from 
the inside of the aircrafts cabin in order to be able to control tilt, 
bank, and drift angle to maintain the camera levelled and 
aligned. This installation is shown in Figure 5. The reliability of 
the system in this operational mission was very high. The whole 
job was done in less than 6 days. Using the base information 
data from Mexican mapping agency (i.e. topographic map 
1:50000, existing small scale orthomosaic map 1:75000 and 
775 
  
  
CMOS 13.89 million total pixel (4560 x 3048 pix) 
sensor 13.50 million recorded pixel (4500 x 3000 
pix) 
Format 36 mm x 24 mm (full format), no focal length 
size magnification 
  
Sensitivity | Pro 14n ISO 80 — 400 (full resolution) 
Pro SLR/n ISO 6 — 1600 
Bit depth | 12 bit / colour 
Frame rate | Burst rate 1.7 frames / s 
Burst depth ~20 frames (full res., 512 Mb 
RAM) 
Table 1: Kodak DCS Pro 14n technical specifications. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
i 
  
Figure 5: DCS Pro 14n in outside platform installation 
(O GeoSisA 2004). 
DTM) an accuracy of 8m is obtained from AT. This accuracy is 
in the range of several pixels only, caused by the lower quality 
of input data used for orientation, but fully agrees with the 
required accuracy demands. From another project with 60cm 
GSD (flying height 3000m) an orthomosaic accuracy of 2m 
(RMS) was proven based on check point data from 1:1000 base 
map and field topography. 
From their practical experiences with digital medium format 
images obtained from Kodak DCS Pro 14n GeoSisA proved 
that the coloured mosaics have more semantic information and 
resolution than high-resolution satellite imagery (i.e. Ikonos and 
Quick Bird). The mosaics are delivered to the clients in less 
time than the satellite image (even when the satellite image has 
been already taken) and less expensive, especially when the 
clients need is to cover an area considerably less than the 
minimum size image offered by the satellite provider. Besides 
that the stereo capability of digital airborne images supports the 
clients within the photointerpretation process. Working stereo is 
possible from satellite images also, but considerably more 
expensive since an additional scene is necessary. 
4.3 IGI diGlcam-K14 system 
The new dIGlcam series sensor systems of IGI has been 
combined with the IGI LiteMapper (LiDAR Terrain Mapping 
System) as imaging sub-component of an airborne laser 
scanning platform. The dIGIcam-K14 is based on the Kodak 
DCS Pro 14n and has been improved for airborne operations 
with a proprietary external housing and fixed focus lens. Also, 
the dIGlcam benefits of the fully integration to the IGI CCNS 
guidance and sensor management and AEROcontrol integrated