PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
March 2014
213
BOOK
REVIEW
High Resolution Satellite Imagery
Ian Dowman, Karsten Jacobsen,
Gottfried Konecny, and Rainer Sandau
Whittles Publishing: Dunbeath, Scotland, UK. 2012. 248 pp.,
diagrams, maps, images, color plates, index.
ISBN 978-184995-046-6 (Hardcover)
$122.20
Reviewed by:
Tuna Kalayci, FORTH, Institute for
Mediterranean Studies. Laboratory of Geophysical
– Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeo-
environment. Rethymno 74100, Crete, Greece
High Resolution Optical Satellite Imagery
, written by
Ian Dowman, Karsten Jacobsen, Gottfried Konecny, and Rain-
er Sandau, explores the characteristics of high resolution opti-
cal sensors and the ways in which optical imagery are acquired
and processed. By itself, the term, “high resolution”, is prob-
lematic since there is little consensus on what is considered
“high resolution”. In other words, where does the separation
between high resolution and low resolution sensors begin? The
book, however, sufficiently overcomes this problem by discuss-
ing systems, such as ASTER and SPOT alongside sensors with
a ground sample distances (GSD) one meters or less. The book
stands as a good reference for students and professionals.
The book can be divided into three parts. Part One (Chapter
1: Satellite Imaging Technology; Chapter 2: History of Optical
Sensors in Space) is an introduction to satellite systems, con-
cepts and terminologies as well as the history of space flight.
This step-by-step introduction is helpful for readers with
limited remote sensing expertise. However, more advanced
readers will still enjoy reading these introductory chapters.
Part Two (Chapter 3: Principles of High Resolution Optical
Sensors; Chapter 4: Sensors with a GSD of greater than
1m up to 16m; Chapter 5: Sensors with a GSD of 1 m or
less) provide extensive theoretical and practical knowledge
on “high resolution optical satellite imagery”. In Chapter 3,
Rainer Sandau proficiently summarizes the engineering and
mathematics behind a generic optical sensor. The proceeding
chapters investigate specific high resolution sensors in detail
and provide informative tables and charts for an easier read.
These chapters succinctly compile information ranging from
camera characteristics to company profiles in charge of build-
ing these sensors.
Part Three (Chapter 6: Calibration, Sensor Models and
Orientation and Chapter 7: Processing and Products) focuses
on photogrammetric processing and remote sensing products.
Topics discussed include rigorous models Rational Polynomial
Coefficients (RPC) as well as Image Matching for Digital Ele-
vation Model (DEM) generation, orthorectification, and data
fusion. “Discussions on modeling, orientation and imagery
products may seem limited to advanced readers, but these
chapters still remain comprehensive so that they remain
satisfactory to many. Finally, the book is closed by Chapter
7: Conclusions and Future Developments, where planned and
potential missions are discussed.
Overall, the book fills an important gap in studies on high
spatial resolution satellite data. Discussing specific sensor
technologies and exploring their developmental trajectories
offer a great opportunity not only for remote sensing special-
ists, but also for other scholars who are dealing with spatial
data. The authors explain introductory topics in sufficient
detail and open discussions for more advanced subjects. While
doing so, the authors successfully cover “high resolution opti-
cal satellite imagery” in this relatively short book.
Due to the ways in which the book is organized some
discussions overlap (e.g. CORONA camera system). This
doesn’t affect the flow, yet the number of such instances is
large enough to be noticed by the reader. In various cases,
the authors guide the reader to other chapters, sections and
sub-sections for further explanation and references.
“High Resolution Optical Satellite Imagery” would have
been more complete with an additional chapter on case stud-
ies using high resolution imagery. Spatial disciplines increas-
ingly enjoy high resolution imagery due to wider availability
and decreasing costs. There are exemplary studies through-
out the book, but, these studies focus on sensor performances
rather than how high-resolution imagery is exploited.
In summary, the author’s provide an easy-to-read and
high-quality book with sufficient number of color plates and
graphs. The authors of the book were able to create a useful
reference on the subject for a wide audience, including scien-
tists and engineers. Scholars working with spatial data will
also find this reference extremely valuable in their studies.
