The HRS-SAP initiative: A scientific assessment of the High Resolution Stereoscopic instrument on board of SPOT 5 by ISPRS investigators

Abstract

SPOT 5 has been commissioned after performed its launch in May 2002 and the geometric calibrations and assessments show the good quality of the images. Few months after this launch CNES proposed to ISPRS a joint initiative for assessing the new HRS (High Resolution Stereoscopic) instrument and especially the quality and accuracy of DEM which could be derived from HRS stereo pairs. This proposal was agreed and the announcement of the program (HRS-SAP) and its organization (HRS Study Team) was made during the ISPRS Commission 1 Symposium in Denver (November 2002). The HRS-SAP is organized within a HRS Study Team with a Secretariat, Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators. Nine test areas have been selected with associated PI’s. In addition 16 more Co-Investigators have been accepted and they have received HRS images and Reference Data. Final results should have been achieved by end 2003 but up to April 2004 only half of the reports have been received. Nevertheless on the Bavarian test Site all 7 investigators have produced results, confirming the high quality of the HRS instrument, especially on open areas where a height standard deviation of about 5 m is the rule. More detailed results and synthesis are still expected to be presented during this Istanbul Congress.