Spatially and Temporally Consistent Smallsat-Derived Basemaps for Analytic Applications
J. D. Kington, Kelsey A. Jordahl, Anudeep Kanwar, Kapadia, Amit, M. Schönert, K. Wurster · Figshare · 2021
Smallsat constellations are increasingly relied upon for mapping and monitoring needs in remote sensing. Planet's constellation provides near-daily visual+ NIR coverage at 3-5m cellsize allowing MODIS-like temporal monitoring at a higher spatial resolution than Sentinel or Landsat. The strengths of smallsat data come with several challenges for large-scale earth observation tasks, however. Smallsats often have a narrower swath width, increased sensor variability, and decreased positional accuracy compared to traditional remote sensing platforms. As a result, observing large regions requires combining multiple observations with differing characteristics and quality. Even with rigorous calibration, atmospheric correction, and validation of instruments it is challenging to combine large numbers of independent images into a consistent and cloud-free dataset.