Extraction of digital surface models from CORONA satellite stereo images

Abstract

Satellite images can be utilised for observing surficial changes, especially efficient in the monitoring of larger areas. The comparative analysis of high resolution images from earlier periods with recent data can provide insight in the scale of changes in topography, and with meteorological, hydrological and other historic records, can lead to better understanding and more reliable modelling of the predominant processes causing mass movement. More accurate morphometric and visual analysis of the topographic changes is possible using digital surface model (DSM), which can be obtained from satellite stereo images. In this paper, the authors evaluated methods of creation digital surface models obtained from satellite images from the CORONA program in monitoring surficial mass movement processes in the Fruška Gora mountain area, in the southern part of the Vojvodina province in Serbia. This area is of particular interest because of its favourable geographic location, rich geo- and cultural heritage and increasing demand for exploitation, which results in greater impact of natural hazards. The CORONA images were chosen because of good availability of high resolution coverage for the whole area from the period of past four decades.