Automatic Co-registration of Satellite Time Series via Least Squares Adjustment

Abstract

Image-to-image co-registration is a fundamental task for data processing of satellite time series. This paper presents a new multi-image co-registration algorithm that simultaneously uses multi-image corresponding points in the whole multi-temporal sequence. Image co-registration parameters are then computed on the basis of a global adjustment. The implemented algorithm provides sub-pixel accuracy similar to that achievable with interactive measurements, but it is also able to register images which do not directly share corresponding features with the reference. Results for a (i) synthetic dataset and a (ii) real complex multi-temporal series made up of 13 Landsat images collected over a period of 30 years are illustrated and discussed. The obtained results showed that the implemented algorithm is atmospheric resistant and quite robust against land cover changes, cloud cover, and snow.

Keywords:

• image processing
• least squares adjustment
• matching
• medium-resolution
• co-registration
• satellite images
• time series