Leica ADS80

Luzern, Switzerland, acquired at 5 cm GSD, 2008.
Leica ADS80 - Digital Airborne Imaging Solution

NAIP, Salt Lake City
4 December 2008
Shawn Slade, Doug Flint and Ruedi Wagner
Leica Geosystems AG, Airborne Sensors
1. Our History in Airborne Sensing
Leicas history in aerial photography
C2 - 1925
RC30 - 1992
ADS40 - 2006
SH51 & SH52
ADS40 - 2001
2008 Another Milestone

Leica ADS80 (3rd Generation)
+
SH81 / SH82
CU80 / MM80
Leica XPro
= Most complete
Digital Airborne Imaging Solution
Leica ADS80 Efficient Data Acquisition

Control Unit CU80 and MM80
MM40
Embedded IPAS20 with GNSS
High data throughput of 130 MB/sec

=> More data can be acquired faster
(Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry)
Radiometric resolution of
compressed data 10-bit and 12-bit
=> Even better data quality
Recording interval 1 ms
=> Smaller GSD at faster speed
2. Basic Design Advantages Why Pushbroom and

not Frame?
Different imaging concepts ADS40/80 and RC30

Airborne digital sensor
ADS40/80
continuous pushbroom scanning
Analog aerial camera

RC30
discrete perspective images
forward view
nadir view
backward view
overlapping aerial photographs
Three-line pushbroom scanner

Backward scene
Nadir scene
Forward scene
composed
of backward view lines
composed
of nadir view lines
composed
of forward view lines
Backward
Nadir
Forward
3 x 100% overlap
Better B/H ratio than digital frame
What is relevant to the Customer in aerial digital

mapping?
3. Advantages of the Leica ADS80

3.1 Highest Geometric Accuracy
Leica ADS40-II/ ADS80

Highest Stability during Data Acquisition
One optical path

Tight integration
Very few components
=> Highest Geometric Stability
Innovative Tetrachroid Beamsplitter

Data Acquisition Efficieny
Leica ADS40-II/ ADS80 - Data Acquisition Efficiency

Equal resolution in all bands
Telecentric Lens
Thermal and Pressure
Equal Resolution
Tetrachroid
Co-registered in all
bands
Compensated
NO PAN-SHARPENING
Independent Research shows.......

The large size digital frame images are merged from 4 separate
panchromatic cameras and the color cameras. The image deformation
of the sub-cameras, determined by laboratory calibration, is respected
by the generation of the homogenous virtual images.
So by theory they should not show any systematic image errors.
In reality an analysis of the image residuals of block adjustments
shows very clear systematic image errors corresponding to the
merge of the sub-images.
(Passini and Jacobsen, 2008)
Quality of external orientation

Passini & Jacobsen (2008)
Frame Cameras flown 60% forward and sidelap

ADS40 flown with 15% sidelap

mapping?

3.2 Data Acquisition Efficiency
GSD 1.2 / 3 cm
=> 90 kts
GSD
2 / 5 cm
=> 140 kts
GSD
3 / 7.5cm
=> 190 kts
GSD
4 / 10cm
=> 240 kts
GSD
6 / 15cm
=> 300 kts
Frame
Frame vs
vs Pushbroom
Pushbroom in
in NAIP
NAIP
Digital Frame
RC 30 (film camera)
Requires Creation of Virtual Frames
DMC (digital camera)
Requires Pansharpening at ratio 1:3

Minimum 30% sidelap due to AT requirements
Requires 3 tie points per frame over 240km long strips means
10000s of tie points
ADS40 (digital camera)
Frame vs
vs Pushbroom
Pushbroom in
in NAIP
NAIP
Frame
RC 30 (film camera)
Digital Pushbroom
DMC (digital camera)
No Mosaicking and colorbalancing of thousands of frames required

No Pansharpening
Sidelap can be reduced to <<30%
Requires 3 tie points between lines (each 240km long)
ADS40 (digital camera)

mapping?

3.3 Highest Radiometric Accuracy
Telecentric optics design

ADS40/80
Conventional optics design
Vertical incidence of all ray bundles
Vertical incidence only for ray bundle

on the optical axis
Object space Image space
Focal plate
Interference filter and

Trichroid/Tetrachroid can be used.
Object space
Image space
Focal plate
Absorption filters must be used.

NOT suitable for remote sensing.
Spectral transmission of interference filters

ADS40/80
Interference filter transmission equal
across whole FoV
Image red
band
Image space
Filter
CCD
Red filter
transmission
Image red
band
Swath
Red filter
transmission
Interference filter transmission not equal

for whole FoV
Swath
Image space
Conventional optics design
Filter
Illustration
Suitable for remote sensing
CCD
Illustration
Not suitable for remote sensing

Radiometric Accuracy
Clearly separated bands,

optimized for vegetation
Radiometric Calibration/Performance
For automated classification, the ADS40 SH52 shows by far the

best accuracy. [Kass Green, ASPRS 2008]
Tree Type Identification (Waser, 2008)

mapping?

3.4 Data Processing Efficiency
Leica ADS80 Workflow

Flight Planning and Execution
Leica ADS80 Workflow

Ground Processing
Processing at the Speed of Flight
Data Processing with Leica XPro

Product Generation
Radiometric Image
Chain implementation
throughout the workflow
leads to perfect image
radiometry atmospheric haze and
bidirectional reflection
effects (BRDF) are
taken care of
Full support of 4-band
image products
Global Service & Support Locations.
Support Location
Service Center
Continued Technical Advances and how they

benefit USDA programs
Leica Geosystems has been a pioneer in the transition from aerial film cameras to the digital market. We had
the first large format sensor on the market in 2001 and as you can see here, we have made continual
technological advancements, which to date make it the most versatile, stable and complete mapping camera on
the market. The ADS sensor has served the USDA NAIP program very well over the last several years and in
fact their biggest NAIP contractor utilizes the technology.
Leica Geosystems has designed and engineered the ADS with mapping in mind. We have ensured that our
cameras are geometrically stable (put together right) and radio metrically the best (perfectly co-registered
bands, spectral separation between bands, radiometric depth allowing to see in the shadows)
Leica Geosystems currently offers the RCD105 camera system along with airborne LiDAR, which can serve
natural resource programs of various size and GSD/point density requirements very effectively.
Leica Geosystems has recently formed the Geospatial Solutions Division which brings together the Airborne
Sensor Business Unit, the ERDAS Business Unit, and the Terrestrial Scanner Business Unit.
ERDAS is launching the new Apollo product which will allow customers to easily and effectively serve and
manage large geospatial datasets via the web.
With XPro being the driving force behind ADS data processing now, project turn around time is much faster
than before.
Example Data Luzern, Switzerland
Where the frame camera hits the wall,

the pushbroom sensor
opens up a whole new world of
opportunity!
Thank You!
Appendix
Effect of central perspective

Airborne digital sensor
ADS40/80
Forward view strip
Analog aerial camera

RC30
Photograph with central perspective
Nadir view strip

Flight line with overlapping
photographs
Backward view strip
Stereo-viewing comfort: Constant Stereo Angle

Left eye
Right eye
Forward pixel carpet

with constant
viewing angle
Nadir pixel carpet

with constant
viewing angle
Polarized
glasses
Parallel Line Perspective best for elimination of BRDF *

view from ADS40 Surfaces along track
Surfaces across track
Forward
Nadir
Backward
* BRDF = Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function
Increased Efficiency through Staggered Line

24000 Pixels in Nadir
PAV30
PAV80
ADS40
ADS80
Proven!
Pan/MS
25% Increase
Ratio
Pan/MS
50% Increase
Ratio
Effective1.25
15000 pixels
Effective 18000
1.5
pixels
Leica ADS80 Lighter Sensors

Control Unit CU80 and MM80
MM40

Highly reliable flash disk

technology
364 GB / 768 GB capacity per
MM80 pair
Exchangeable In-flight
Weight 2.5 kg
= total weight installed 210-215kg

193-197kg
Finally, after 14 years..............:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

...............Leica PAV80
Stabilization
range in roll
- 7 to + 7
Stabilization
range in
pitch
- 8 to + 6
Stabilization - 30 to 30
range in drift
Leica PAV80 - Lighter Sensors

Key Benefits
Accommodates sensors with a total weight from 5 kg up to 100 kg
No need for a mass compensator.
= total weight installed 190-195kg

155-160kg
Post processing time Leica XPro workflow

Flight
Total time
User
1,200 km2, 15cm GSD
action
WS with 6
12 lines, each 80 km, 3 Pan and 8 MS
Approximately 7 hr flight at 130 knots server cluster time
Download
400 GB ADS data format
Georeferencing
Trajectory calculation
geo-referencing of L0 images
4h
0.5 h
0.5 h 0.5 h
0.1 h 0.1 h
Automatic Point Measurement

Aerial
triangulation Bundle Adjustment
0.1 h 0.1 h
0.3 h 0.3 h
Ortho photo RGB or FCIR 1,200 km2
1.7 h 0.1 h
6.7 h 1.6 h
Feature
extraction
Due to image strips slightly faster

than in traditional workflow
Fly-through
Similar to traditional workflow
ADS80
Maintaining filter transmission characteristics
Interference filters
Used in ADS40
Absorption filters
Used in CCD array cameras
Non-overlapping narrow bands
Overlapping bands
nm
nm
Interference filters are best for remote sensing applications where

response in non-overlapping narrow bands is required
ADS80
Separate bands for Remote Sensing
Spectral bands of different cameras
ADS
UltraCam D
DSS
Ikonos
Quick Bird
DMC
Landsat
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
Wavelength [nm]
800
850
900
950
1000

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What are the advantages of using a pushbroom sensor compared to a frame sensor?

What are the advantages of using a pushbroom sensor compared to a frame sensor?

What are some of the key features and benefits of the Leica ADS80 system?

What are some of the key features and benefits of the Leica ADS80 system?

Luzern, Switzerland, acquired at 5 cm GSD, 2008.

Leica ADS80 - Digital Airborne Imaging Solution

1. Our History in Airborne Sensing

Leicas history in aerial photography

2008 Another Milestone

Digital Airborne Imaging Solution

Leica ADS80 Efficient Data Acquisition

Embedded IPAS20 with GNSS

High data throughput of 130 MB/sec

2. Basic Design Advantages Why Pushbroom and

Different imaging concepts ADS40/80 and RC30

Analog aerial camera

overlapping aerial photographs

Three-line pushbroom scanner

What is relevant to the Customer in aerial digital

3. Advantages of the Leica ADS80

Leica ADS40-II/ ADS80

One optical path

=> Highest Geometric Stability

Innovative Tetrachroid Beamsplitter

Leica ADS40-II/ ADS80 - Data Acquisition Efficiency

Independent Research shows.......

Quality of external orientation

Frame Cameras flown 60% forward and sidelap

What is relevant to the Customer in aerial digital

3. Advantages of the Leica ADS80

Leica ADS80 Efficient Data Acquisition

=> 140 kts

=> 190 kts

=> 240 kts

=> 300 kts

Requires Creation of Virtual Frames

DMC (digital camera)

Requires Pansharpening at ratio 1:3

DMC (digital camera)

No Mosaicking and colorbalancing of thousands of frames required

What is relevant to the Customer in aerial digital

3. Advantages of the Leica ADS80

Telecentric optics design

Conventional optics design

Vertical incidence of all ray bundles

Vertical incidence only for ray bundle

Object space Image space

Interference filter and

Absorption filters must be used.

Spectral transmission of interference filters

Interference filter transmission not equal

Conventional optics design

Suitable for remote sensing

Not suitable for remote sensing

Leica ADS80 Efficient Data Acquisition

Clearly separated bands,

For automated classification, the ADS40 SH52 shows by far the

Tree Type Identification (Waser, 2008)

What is relevant to the Customer in aerial digital

3. Advantages of the Leica ADS80