SPOT Graphic
Flagstaff Atlas
SPOT Panchromatic Stereo Images
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The French SPOT satellite imaging system, launched in 1986, collects three spectral bands (green, red, and near infrared), having 20 meter resolution, or a single visible panchromatic band, having 10 meter resolution. The area covered by a single image is approximately 60 by 60 km (37.5 by 37.5 miles) and the satellite orbits at an altitude of about 830 km (520 miles). The SPOT imaging system has the capability to point to the sides; therefore, it can collect stereo image pairs that contain topographic (3-D) information. For this study we had a SPOT 10 meter panchromatic stereo image pair collected; a nadir looking image was collected on November 7, 1995, and an approximately 29 degrees west/off nadir looking image was collected on November 8, 1995. A low sun elevation angle was considered important for optimum enhancement of structural/topographic features. The window of opportunity for low sun elevation images in the spring of 1995 was missed due to satellite scheduling and cloud problems, so we had to wait until the fall to have an image pair collected. The November 7th and 8th dates were excellent for a low sun angle and no snow cover (the sun elevation angle of the two images was about 35 degrees). The images were used to generate a digital stereo pair that could be analyzed either interactively in digital format or optically in hardcopy format. The stereo image products generated from these data were excellent, and the structural enhancement due to both the stereo view and low sun elevation angle were very good.



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