Georeferencing of Satellite Linear Array Stereo Images with Quaternion Attitude Kinematics Equation

A quaternion method for georeferencing of satellite linear array stereo images is proposed in this paper. In this method, quaternion is used to describe the exterior orientation parameters (EOPs) of the satellite linear array stereo images, and gain the EOPs of any image line through quaternion attitude kinematics equation. Then the georeferencing results can be obtained after solving the collinearity equations with ground control points (GCPs). We validate this method through experiment with SPOT images. Experimental results indicate that quaternion attitude kinematics equation can be used for georeferencing of satellite linear array stereo images, the accuracy is as much as or even better than that of the conventional method, and the quaternion EOPs can overcome much of correlation. This method can successfully used in satellite linear array stereo images, and it can also effectively avoid a great deal of computation of trigonometric functions and the potential unstable factors. It provides another technique for georeferencing of satellite linear array stereo images.