Abstract
BlackBridge is a leading provider of quality high-resolution satellite imagery. With the RapidEye constellation of five earth observation satellites, BlackBridge images up to five million square kilometers of earth every day, and adds over one billion square kilometers of imagery to its archive every year. The satellites are equally phased in a sun-synchronous orbit which allows for the possibility of imaging any point on the Earth (between 75 ͦ S to 75 ͦ N) each day. As RapidEye data features a combination of wide area repetitive coverage and five meter pixel multi-spectral imagery covering visible and near infrared wavelengths, it is a natural choice for many industries and government agencies.
In its mission to provide accurate data to its customers, BlackBridge continually looks at ways of improving its calibration techniques and approaches. In the past, BlackBridge has partnered with the University of Arizona to perform absolute vicarious calibration of the RapidEye constellation. The first campaigns were completed in 2009 with two RapidEye sensors. These campaigns were then expanded to the entire constellation in 2011 with yearly collects continuing through the present. These collects have been obtained using the Railroad Valley and Ivanpah Playa calibration sites. The RapidEye collects over these sites help BlackBridge ensure that RapidEye imagery is accurately calibrated for brighter target areas. More recently BlackBridge has also partnered with South Dakota State University. Utilizing a darker vegetative site in Brookings, SD, BlackBridge has now been able to ensure the calibration of the RapidEye sensors over darker target areas. Combining results from both Universities, gives two points along the spectral response curve and, assuming the response of the sensors is linear, allows for the accurate calibration of the RapidEye sensors through their entire dynamic range.
Absolute Calibration of the RapidEye Constellation
BlackBridge is a leading provider of quality high-resolution satellite imagery. With the RapidEye constellation of five earth observation satellites, BlackBridge images up to five million square kilometers of earth every day, and adds over one billion square kilometers of imagery to its archive every year. The satellites are equally phased in a sun-synchronous orbit which allows for the possibility of imaging any point on the Earth (between 75 ͦ S to 75 ͦ N) each day. As RapidEye data features a combination of wide area repetitive coverage and five meter pixel multi-spectral imagery covering visible and near infrared wavelengths, it is a natural choice for many industries and government agencies.
In its mission to provide accurate data to its customers, BlackBridge continually looks at ways of improving its calibration techniques and approaches. In the past, BlackBridge has partnered with the University of Arizona to perform absolute vicarious calibration of the RapidEye constellation. The first campaigns were completed in 2009 with two RapidEye sensors. These campaigns were then expanded to the entire constellation in 2011 with yearly collects continuing through the present. These collects have been obtained using the Railroad Valley and Ivanpah Playa calibration sites. The RapidEye collects over these sites help BlackBridge ensure that RapidEye imagery is accurately calibrated for brighter target areas. More recently BlackBridge has also partnered with South Dakota State University. Utilizing a darker vegetative site in Brookings, SD, BlackBridge has now been able to ensure the calibration of the RapidEye sensors over darker target areas. Combining results from both Universities, gives two points along the spectral response curve and, assuming the response of the sensors is linear, allows for the accurate calibration of the RapidEye sensors through their entire dynamic range.