Automated concepts for geo-coregistration of multisensor images in the GEOSS era

The utility of a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) in part rests on the ability to precisely and automatically co-register imagery from the variety of earth observation satellite imaging sensors included in the System. Sub-Pixel precision is required to support time-series analysis unconfused by the occurrence of miss- registration, while automatic co-registration procedures are required to assure efficient data handling. The ability to effectively support and co-register a wide variety of sensors from across the international community is important for two reasons: (1) the cloud cover obscuration problem can be most effectively addressed by using the full range of revisit opportunities presented by the international community of satellites, and (2) precise, sub- pixel co-registration enables cross-sensor calibration and compensation/correction of data used in a selected area during a given time-frame and season.