Deutsches Zentrum Fur Luft-und Raumfahrt E.v.

Thomas Krauss

Hartmut Runge

A method and device for geo-referencing of supplied aerial image data, which has been recorded by an imaging system and in which a part of the earth's surface is imaged, wherein the geo-referencing of the aerial image data is carried out based on the supplied geo-referenced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data, in which the same part of the earth's surface is imaged, wherein the method and system include: determination of essentially point-like radar signatures RS in the geo-referenced SAR image data, provision of a position of the sun for recording time of the aerial image data and the part of the earth's surface imaged therein, determination of elongated cast shadows SS produced in a direction of solar radiation in the aerial image data based on the position of the sun at the time of recording, determination in the aerial image data of initial points AP facing the sun of the determined cast shadows SS, determination of spatially corresponding point-like radar signatures RS and the initial points AP of the cast shadows SS, registration of the aerial image data with the SAR image data based on the corresponding radar signatures RS and the initial points AP, and transfer of the geo-referencing of the SAR image data to the aerial image data registered with the SAR image data.

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Schwabmünchen, Germany

Thomas Krauss