Coastal Services Center

---

Quickbird

---

Summary | Different Data Products | Applied Uses | Specifications | Data Ordering Details | Frequently Asked Questions | For More Information

Summary

QuickBird is a commercial satellite that collects high-resolution imagery globally. The satellite was launched on October 18, 2001, and data were made available beginning May of 2002. QuickBird offers panchromatic (PAN) imagery at 60- and 70-centimeter resolutions and multispectral (MS) imagery at 2.4- and 2.8-meter resolutions. The satellite is owned and operated by DigitalGlobe, Inc., which sells data directly or through licensed resellers.

---

Different Data Products

Point to the names below to view the different data products.

60- or 70-Centimeter Panchromatic
70-Centimeter Natural Color Pan-Sharpened
70-Centimeter Color Infrared Pan-Sharpened
2.4- or 2.8-Meter Multispectral

Return to top

---

Applied Uses

Examples of how Quickbird data are being used:

Monitoring the Pacific Walrus Population in the Bering and Chukchi Seas Ecosystem U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists responsible for the management of Pacific walrus have been evaluating the potential of QuickBird high-resolution satellite imagery to be used as an effective tool for population monitoring.

Other Potential Uses:

• Environmental
  • Land Use/Land Cover
  • Wetland Assessment
  • Habitat Mapping
• Natural Resources
  • Forest Health Assessment
  • Mining and Exploration
• Hazards
  • Risk Assessment
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Emergency Response Planning

Return to top

---

Specifications

Spatial Resolution

• 60-centimeter panchromatic (60-cm PAN)
• 70-centimeter panchromatic (70-cm PAN)
• 70-centimeter pan sharpened (70-cm PAN)
• 2.4-meter multispectral (2.4-m MS)
• 2.8-meter multispectral (2.8-m PS)

Spectral Resolution

Band	60-cm & 70-cm PAN	70-cm PS, 2.4-m MS & 2.8-m MS
Panchromatic	0.450-0.90 µm	--
Blue	--	0.450-0.520 µm
Green	--	0.520-0.600 µm
Red	--	0.630-0.690 µm
Near IR	--	0.760-0.900 µm

Temporal Resolution – The revisit rate for QuickBird is 1 to 3.5 days depending on latitude at 70-cm resolution and maximum off-nadir angle.

Swath – 16.5 x 16.5 kilometers at nadir (Single Scene)

Return to top

---

Data Ordering Details

Data Acquisition	QuickBird was launched on October 18, 2001, and is owned and operated by DigitalGlobe, Inc. The data were first available in May of 2002. QuickBird imagery can be purchased directly from DigitalGlobe or from a number of licensed resellers. Contact information can be found on the DigitalGlobe Web site. more info
Timing	Once all appropriate data are collected, image delivery can take 7 to 365 days depending on the product, priority, and order requirements. A complete list of delivery times for the various products can be found in the QuickBird Product Guide.
Cost	The prices of QuickBird imagery vary based on the accuracy of the product's georeferencing and any special data requests (i.e., different swath size, viewing angle, etc.). Price information can be found on the DigitalGlobe Web site.
Data Formats/Software Needed	Choice of untiled GeoTIFF or uncompressed NITF (National Imagery Transmission Format) 2.0 or 2.1. QuickBird collects 11-bit data. The data are delivered in either 8-bit or 16-bit format.
Projections	Supported Projections: Choice of Universal Transverse Mercator, State Plane, or Geographic. Supported Datums: Choice of World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84), North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83), North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27), Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80), or Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA1994).
Licensing	All QuickBird imagery has user license agreements. The degree of licensing depends on the type of user and the intent for the data. The different licensing categories and costs can be obtained from DigitalGlobe.

Return to top

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Data Acquisition

Who produces the data?
QuickBird is owned and operated by DigitalGlobe, Inc.

What imagery products are available?
QuickBird offers three types of imagery products.

• Basic imagery is the least processed of the three types. It is corrected for sensor and platform-induced distortions but not georeferenced or mapped to a cartographic projection. Basic imagery is not pan-sharpened.
• Standard imagery is georeferenced and mapped to a cartographic projection. It is corrected for sensor and platform-induced distortions and radiometrically corrected.
• Orthorectified imagery has the highest level of processing. It includes all of the processing applied to standard imagery plus terrain correction.

What is the minimum order size?
The minimum order size is dependent on the product type, orthorectified scale, and product priority. The minimum order ranges from 25 to 150 square kilometers.

How can I place an order?
QuickBird imagery can be ordered directly from DigitalGlobe or from a number of licensed resellers. DigitalGlobe provides a complete list of available resellers.

Can I download or request the imagery on-line?
Archived QuickBird imagery may be ordered via the Web using the DigitalGlobe Archive Tool. Orders may also be submitted via e-mail to orders@digitalglobe.com. Order forms are provided on the Digital Globe Web site.

Data Formats/Software Needed

What are the differences between 8-bit, 11-bit, and 16-bit imagery?
QuickBird collects 11-bit data. Some computers cannot read 11-bit data, so QuickBird imagery is delivered as 8-bit or 16-bit.

Eight-bit images contain a pixel value range from 0 to 255. To produce 8-bit images from 11-bit data, the data are compressed. This choice of imagery

• can limit or "clip" the amount of highlights and shadow detail,
• provides less variation in image tones and intensity,
• has a smaller file size (than 11-bit), and
• is ideal for small, easier-to-use images for visual interpretation.

Eleven-bit images contain a pixel value range from 0 to 2047. QuickBird 16-bit data are 11-bit data stored as 16-bit. This choice of imagery

• provides full QuickBird dynamic range,
• increases shadow and highlight detail,
• increases tonal variation and intensity,
• has a larger file size,
• is ideal for extensive image analysis, and
• requires software that can view 16-bit image data.

What software is needed?
QuickBird imagery is commonly formatted as a GeoTIFF. Any software capable of processing 8-bit or 16-bit GeoTIFF data can view the imagery. Examples include the following:

• Adobe^® PhotoShop^®
• Paint Shop Pro^®

Higher-end image processing and analysis will require specialized software, including these examples:

• ESRI products (ArcView^®, ArcInfo^®, ArcGIS^®, etc.)
• ERDAS Imagine^®
• ER Mapper^®
• RSI ENVI^®
• PCI Geomatica^®
• SOCET SET^®

Sixteen-bit data are difficult to view in ESRI ArcView 3.x. To view 16-bit data properly, it may be necessary to purchase MrSID or ESRI's Image Analysis Extension for ArcView. For specifics on viewing QuickBird imagery with ESRI Products, contact ESRI.

QuickBird can also be requested in NITF format. Most image software packages can read GeoTIFF formats, but most cannot read NITF formats.

How large are QuickBird data files?
File sizes for QuickBird imagery vary based on the product. Some file size examples for a 10 x 10 kilometer orthorectified scene follow:

• 60-centimeter panchromatic image (8-bit) = 300 megabytes (MB)
• 60-centimeter panchromatic image (16-bit) = 600 MB
• 70-centimeter color image (8-bit) = 630 MB
• 70-centimeter color image (16-bit) = 1260 MB
• 2.4-meter 4-band multispectral image (8-bit) = 75 MB
• 2.8-meter 4-band multispectral image (8-bit) = 55 MB
• 70-centimeter 4-band multispectral pan-sharpened image (8-bit) = 840 MB

Return to top

General Questions

How do clouds affect the data?
Digital Globe attempts to collect imagery with the lowest possible cloud cover. However, all imagery products containing less than or equal to 20 percent cloud cover are delivered. Although clouds cover less than 20 percent of the imagery, they can obscure ground cover and create shadows, making interpretation and processing more difficult.

What level of technical expertise is needed to use imagery?
A general understanding of the software is needed to view the imagery. Image processing and analyses of QuickBird imagery data may require a trained technician.

Can the QuickBird satellite be pointed at a target area?
The QuickBird satellite can be pointed at targets up to 25 degrees off-nadir (off-nadir ). Most QuickBird images are collected at various off-nadir angles because it takes less time to cover an area than if images were collected only at nadir (nadir ). Orthorectified products are collected at 0 to 15 degrees off-nadir. Requests for specific view angles require a special order and pricing.

Does imagery collected off-nadir have any limitations?
The resolution of off-nadir images gradually decreases with the lowest resolutions occurring at the largest off-nadir angle. Off-nadir imagery is resampled to its respective resolution before delivery.

Return to top

---

For more Information

• DigitalGlobe, Inc.
• NOAA Coastal Remote Sensing Frequently Asked Questions

Return to top