Contact:Anna Marie Kinerney, Marketing/Meetings Manager

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ASPRS: The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society has released the final report of the Camera Calibration Review Panel to Dr. Charles G. Groat, Director United States Geological Survey (USGS). The report is also available at http://www.asprs.org/news/external.html. Among the recommendations contained in the report is the need for the USGS to invest approximately $4-5 million over the next few years to modernize the existing calibration facility to support current and future aerial sensor technology.

The report represents the work of a panel of experts, chaired by Mr. John Boland, Eastman Kodak Company, convened by ASPRS to serve as an advisory group to the USGS. The ASPRS panel reviewed a wide range of issues related to sensor calibration facing the user community. In addition to validating existing requirements for aerial mapping camera calibration in the United States, the report assesses ongoing technical developments related to sensor design and calibration, and identifies operational strategies to address the long term viability of these functions.

"This effort represents an important contribution to the future of sensor calibration in the United States," said ASPRS President Michael Renslow in reviewing the report. Renslow added, "Imagery is the foundation for data capture in many geospatial applications, and confidence in the accuracy of the sensor is critical in ensuring the quality of resulting products."

ASPRS Executive Director Jim Plasker commented "Sensor calibration is part of the basic infrastructure of the aerial imaging industry and yet is often taken for granted. Without the USGS facility, which both ASPRS and the Management Association of Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) believe is inherently governmental, the industry and the user community would be lacking an independent assurance of high-quality aerial image acquisition."

The report reviews aerial imaging technology, outlines the factors involved in geometric calibration and summarizes the need for standards and specifications. Technical developments in both digital optical and non-optical sensors are addressed, and calibration methodologies available throughout the world are catalogued in the report. Finally, the report concludes with recommendations for investments in the existing facility and suggestions for future research that ASPRS is prepared to support on behalf of the community.

Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 7,000 imaging and geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.

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(22 February 2000)