Abstract: Georeferencing of Satellite Imagery

Robert Martin

Geologists and Geophysicists with Exxon Exploration Company (EEC) utilize Satellite Imagery and Side-Looking Aerial Radar (SLAR) images in their exploration efforts. The images are used for visual interpretations as well as to quality control he locations of some of our cartographic and geologic data.

Each imaging project has had its own unique set of challenges in getting the data georeferenced correctly to match our existing projected data. Some of the challenges we faced were to determine what software application to use to load, map, and project these images into. In our situation, the Geographical Information System called "ARC-INFO" best served our needs primarily because ARC-INFO will support a variety of image data in a variety of formats.

Initially image data needed to be "rubber-sheeted" to more closely match our cartographic data after the image had been projected into ARC. A new technique used in ARC, called Control points, enabled us to register the images so that they could match with our rivers data. In registering the Venezuelan image data, the rivers data was a good coverage to use to warp the image due to the extensive Orinoco watershed available.

The outcome of this project allowed us to produce images which were registered more accurately and were integrated with our geologic and cartographic databases.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90951©1996 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Caracas, Venezuela