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Image Processing Lab

The SDSU IP Lab Staff perform vicarious calibration in Brookings at the top and in California in the bottom middle picture. The left hand image is an aerial view of Brookings.

The SDSU Image Processing Lab Staff perform vicarious calibration in Brookings at the top and in California in the bottom middle picture. The right image is an aerial view of Brookings. 


The purpose of the SDSU Image Processing Laboratory is to perform:

  • Radiometric, geometric and spatial characterization.
  • Correction and calibration of satellite and airborne imaging systems. 
Founded in 1988, the primary efforts of the laboratory have been towards the research and development of radiometric calibration algorithms for optical remote sensing satellite systems. Areas of greatest contribution include characterization and correction of various artifacts and image noise patterns, precision estimation of relative gains for push broom sensors, gain trending and absolute gain estimation using Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS) and absolute gain estimation using surface reflectance-based manned vicarious calibration campaigns at a vegetative site. In addition, the laboratory is well known for on-orbit estimation of optical satellite point spread functions.
 
The SDSU Image Processing Laboratory works closely with USGS EROS and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, particularly with respect to the Landsat series of satellite sensors. As an example, the recent conversion of the Landsat archive to a consistent reflectance-based calibration was based on analysis from this research group.
 
We also have broad experience with a wide array of sensors including EO-1 Hyperion and ALI, MODIS sensors and high-resolution commercial sensors such as WorldView, RapidEye, Planet’s Doves and a variety of international sensors such as DMC, Thaichote and others.

Image Processing Lab News

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Larry Leigh and two graduate students take measurements using ASD Field Spec

EROS & SDSU — 50 years of collaboration

SDSU formed its Remote Sensing Institute in 1969, EROS Data Center near Baltic opened in August 1973, and a year later EROS began a cooperative education program agreement with SDSU to place students in work assignments paired with classroom studies.

SDSU's Image Processing team honored by NASA

South Dakota State University's world-renowned Image Processing Lab was recognized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the 2022 Robert H. Goddard Awards, held earlier this year. ...

SDSU imaging engineers testing prototype calibration device

Imaging engineers are testing a prototype device to calibrate sensors on Earth-imaging satellites and conducting research to validate new remote sensing products.