A New Real-Time Architecture for Image Compression onboard Satellites based on CCSDS Image Data Compression

Abstract

Remote sensing sensors are used in various applications from Earth sciences, archeology, intelligence, change detection or for planetary research and astronomy. Disaster management after floodings or earthquakes, detection of environmental pollutions or fire detection are examples of countless number of applications. The spatial as well as the spectral resolution of satellite image data increases steadily with new technologies and user requirements resulting in higher precision and new application scenarios. In the future, it will be possible to derive real-time application-specific information from the image on-board the satellite also based on high-resolution images. On the technical side, there is a tremendous increase in data rate that has to be handled by such systems. While the memory capacity requirements can still be fulfilled, the transmission capability becomes increasingly problematic. In this paper, an image compression architecture with region-of-interest support and with flexible access to the compressed data based on the CCSDS 122.0-B-1 image data compression standard is presented. Modifications to the standard permit a change of compression parameters and the re-organization of the bit-stream after compression. An additional index of the compressed data is created, which makes it possible to locate individual parts of the bit-stream. On request, stored images can be re-assembled according the application’s needs and as requested by the ground station. Interactive transmission of the compressed data is possible so that overview images can be transmitted first followed by detailed information for the regions of interest (ROIs).