Application potential of SPOT imagery for topographic mapping

The high resolution and good geometric configuration possible with SPOT gives a high potential for the production of 1:100 000 topographic maps. Studies at University College London have investigated this potential with the aid of a simple instrument which will introduce the necessary corrections to level 1b photographic images and orthophotographs and allow stereoscopic viewing of SPOT images and the ability to compile a line map. Accuracy has been investigated by computing ground co-ordinates from image co-ordinates and pixel positions. The methods used and results obtained in this work are described.Work is now going on to investigate the use of digital image processors in the mapping procedures and the use of analytical plotting instruments, and comments on this work and on future developments are made.