Customers have new tool to visualize the Earth in 3-D.

Space Imaging, Denver, Colo., is now offering one-meter resolution, stereo imagery from its IKONOS satellite to the commercial marketplace. These products were previously offered only to government customers.

Stereo products consist of two IKONOS satellite images of the same location on Earth, taken from two different perspectives during one orbital pass. The pair of images is collected in-track, or on the same ground path just moments apart, to maintain the tonal consistency between each image, enabling better interpretability. One of the two images is taken at a high elevation angle of greater than 72 degrees, which can be used to make a highly accurate orthorectified image.

The primary advantage of stereo imagery is the ability to extract cultural and geographic features in three dimensions such as buildings, roads and elevation contours. Stereo imagery is especially important for global markets where accurate elevation data data is not readily available.

Space Imaging’s stereo imagery product also includes an Image Geometry Model (IGM) file, a mathematical way to express the complex sensor model of IKONOS. By incorporating the IGM and stereo pair images into commonly used commercial imagery software suites, users will now be able to create their own digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthorectify the high-angle image with superior accuracy. Software packages supporting IKONOS stereo imagery include: BAE SYSTEMS’ SOCET SET, ERDAS’ Stereo Analyst and OrthoBASE, PCI’s OrthoEngine, Z/I Imaging’s ImageStation and SSK.

Stereo products can be purchased as 11-bit or 8-bit data and are offered in the same accuracy levels as other IKONOS products:

Precision 1m Stereo has a horizontal accuracy of up to four meters with 1:4,800 NMAS for an area of interest (AOI) within North America (1:5000 for AOIs outside North America) and a vertical accuracy of five meters. Base pricing begins at $175 per sq. km. for an AOI within North America and $250 per sq. km. for an AOI outside North America. Standard color, bundle and license upgrades apply with a minimum order of $10,000.

Reference 1m Stereo has a horizontal accuracy of up to 25 meters with 1:50,000 National Map Accuracy Standard (NMAS) and a vertical accuracy of 22 meters. Base pricing begins at $52 per sq. km. for black-and-white (B&W) products for an AOI within North America and $128 for an AOI outside of North America. Standard color, bundle and license upgrades apply with a minimum order of 100 sq. km.