CE 701: Remote sensing Technology

Lab Exercise 2
Georeferencing, Georectification and Mosaicking
Instructor-In Charge: Prof. E.P. Rao

Prepared by: Anita Chandrasekaran

(TA- PhD Research Scholar)

Georeferencing satellite images

Georeferencing IRS image using information from Leader file
The procedure to georeference IRS image is similar to that of georeferencing a toposheet.

Open the imported IRS image (.img format) in 2D viewer.

Go to Multispectral Transform and Orthocorrect Control Points

In Set geometric Model, select Polynomial

In the new dialog box (Multipoint Geometric Correction) which will show the image in 3
different zoom levels.

In the GCP tool reference Setup dialog box, select Keyboard only.

In Reference Map Information dialog box, select the projection as Geographic (Lat/Long)
and the spheroid and datum name as Everest Defined 1975 (The datum name is given in
the Leader file as Everest, so here we are considering the latest datum).

In Polynomial Model Properties window will open, select 1st order polynomial model and
start selecting the control points

Navigate to each corner of the image and click on the Create GCP tool and select the
corner.

The X input and Y input will come according to the image coordinate system and in X
ref and Y ref enter the corresponding long and lat from the leader file.

After selecting all the 4 corners, go to file and save the input and reference points.

Now click on the resample tool. In this window, enter the output file name and check the
size of output pixels

As we know this image is LISS-4 image and the resolution is 5.8m, we have to change
the output cell size to 5.8m. For this click on Feet/Metre units, it will open a new
window asking for the nomial cell sizes. Give it as 5.8m in both directions (X and Y).
OK. Resampling will start.

Open the georeferenced image in a new 2D viewer and open its Metadata and note the
Projection information and Pixel Size.

Georectification of Topographical Map

A topographic map is a type of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative
representation of relief, usually using contour lines. Topographic map is required to show both
natural and man-made features.
Geometric Correction or Geo-rectification is the method of applying GCPs (Ground Control
Points) to the image and project. Rectification, by definition, involves georeferencing, i.e.
assigning geographic locations using the map coordinates. Projection is the transformation of a
three dimensional body (such as spherical Earth) to a two dimensional plane surface (paper).All
map projections distort the surface in some fashion. Depending on the purpose of the map, some
distortions are acceptable and others are not; therefore different map projections exist in order to
preserve some properties of the sphere-like body at the expense of other properties. So a
particular type of projection is chosen depending upon the geographical location of the area to
be mapped. When the image is geometrically corrected one can measure distances and calculate
areas very accurately.
Begin by opening the file which you wish to georegister and display it and "fit" it in a viewer. As
your mouse moves within the display window note that the coordinates displayed in the lower
left of the viewer are in "row" and "column".
Open the viewer

displaying the file to be rectified (Give file type as All Raster

Formats)
Panchromatic/Multispectral Tab
Polynomial from the dialog box

Control point in Transform &Orthocorrect

OK

Select the option Keyboard Only in GCP tool Reference Setup

In the Reference Map Information window
Select Projection
Spheroid
Datum name

Geographic Lat/Long

Everest 1956
India Nepal

Viewer now has it's own "zoom" window above it

 The Ground Control Points (GCPs) are the small targets which are place on the image
using the GCP tool
.
Now adjust the Magnifier box in the viewer to the top left corner of the topo sheet where
you can see a cross hair mark having coordinates.
From the GCP tool bar, select GCP tool and click on the cross hair in the Viewer (Top
Left Corner).
As soon as you click on the viewer paper coordinates are added to the GCP control. You
have to manually add the Geographic coordinates to the control, i.e, longitude and
Latitude.
In ERDAS Imagine you have to first add Longitude and later Latitude. Record the values
that belong to the latitude and longitude as Y- and X-Ref. You need not convert
Geographic coordinates which are in Degree Min Sec to Decimal coordinates.
Repeat this for Top-Right, Bottom Left and Bottom Right Corners in the Toposheet (Anti
clock wise direction)
Save the Input from the table file menu
Our next task is to resample the image. Resampling is the process of calculating the
values for the rectified image and creating the new file.
Go to Transform & Orthocorrect

Resample Pixel size

The resample dialog opens. Enter a file name for the output - select the Nearest
Neighborhood resampling method - click to exclude zero file values in the statistics.
Verify the rectification.

Mosaicing satellite images

Mosaicing is the seamless joining or stitching of adjacent imagery. Joining imagery that was
collected along the same satellite path (one image taken after the other) is straightforward: with
very little time elapsing between imagery collection, the atmosphere and sensor properties do not
change (that much). However, when joining adjacent imagery from different paths, several days
to a couple of weeks can pass. As such, here is a need to adjust the radiometric differences
between the images in an effort to make the join appear seamless.

Go to Raster

Mosaic

MosaicPRo

If you already have images in your 2D view, you can select MosaicPro from 2D view

The MoasicPro window opens

Edit
Add new images
Navigate to the folder where the images are stored. Select any one band image or stacked
image

OK

Similarly add all the images you want to mosaic.

To view the images click on VIS in the image list or on Display raster images tool Image
list
Click the Automatically generate seamlines for intersections and select Weighted
Seamline for the dialog box to properly fit the images properly
Then go to Process Run Mosaic or click on the lightning bolt symbol. Give an output
file name
View the mosaicked image by opening it in 2d viewer.

Sub-setting an image

Use Inquire box tool to select the area you want to subset. And click apply
In raster toolbar, go to subset & chip, create subset image
In the new dialog box, in subset definition, select from inquire box and give an output
file name and ok. Subset image created.

Assignment 2:
1. What is the difference between Georeferencing and Georectification?
2. What are the characteristics of a good GCP (Ground Control Point)? Give examples of
some good GCPs while registering 2 satellite images.
3. What is the percentage of spatial overlap for 2 adjacent Landsat images? Why is it
necessary to provide this overlap?
4. The swath width of Landsat-TM is 185km. How many Landsat TM images will be
required to cover entire India? (Consider areal extent of India = 3,287,590 sq km and an
overlap of 5% on all sides)
5. What is the basic requirement needed for mosaicking different satellite images/ maps?
What factors should be considered during mosaciking?
6. Can you use a scanned un-georeferenced boundary map of a particular region to subset an
area from a referenced satellite image? Justify your answer within 3-4 lines.