IKONOS satellite mapping accuracy

Abstract

The IKONOS system includes both satellite and ground processing elements. This system delivers impressive satellite images of the Earth with a Ground Sample Distance (GSD) of 1 meter. These images may be enjoyed for their aesthetic qualities, interpreted for their intelligence content, or analyzed for their mapping information. It is this latter, mapping application that we will discuss today. Specifically, we will discuss the mapping accuracy requirements, ground test ranges, and accuracy test results of the IKONOS satellite system. Test results show the IKONOS system is consistently outperforming its design requirements.