Cartographic Potential of Space Images
Karsten Jacobsen
University of Hannover
Nienburger Str. 1
D3000 Hannover
FR Germany
1. Abstract
Space images taken by the Metric Camera (MC), the Large Format Camera (LFC), the
KFA 1000 (KFA), the KATE 200 (KATE), Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and SPOT
have been used for mapping. The geometric potential of MC, LFC, KFA and SPOT has
been shown as sufficiant for small map scales. But for mapping the identification of
objects can limit the possible scale. Based on the derived contents, mapping in the
scale 1 : 50 000 is possible with LFC, KFA and SPOT. The best results have been
achieved with the KFA images, but it is not very different to SPOT.
2. Introduction
Map scales of approximately 1 : 50 000 are necessary for efficiant planing of
resources. But only the following coverage of the whole world is existing:
approximate map scale
coverage
annual progress
1 : 25 000
13%
0.3%
1 : 50 000
42%
1.2%
1 : 100 000
42%
0.3%
1 : 200 000
80%
0.0%
table 1: worldwide map coverage (UN-statistics)
Only in Europe and the USSR we have a nearly complete coverage. The annual
progress in mapping is not sufficiant, so alternatives to the traditional mapping has
to be taken into account. Not only the completeness is important, maps have to be
actualy. A revision cycle between 5 and 10 years is necessary. But worldwide just
3% of the maps are updated per year. So a high number of existing maps are out
of date.
A progress of this situation can be obtained in using space images for mapping and
map revision.
Also by economic reasons in areas with existing maps the use of space images can
be important. For example the generation of digital terrain models is more expensive
by digitizing maps than by aquisition based on space images. Space images are less
costly like a photo flight. A morefold complete coverage by space images enables
the investigation for time changings.
