APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR MAPPING IMAGE COORDINATES TO GROUND COORDINATES

A method for photogrammetric block adjustment of satellite imagery using a simplified adjustment model in-lieu of a physical camera model. A known relationship between image space line and sample coordinate and object space X, Y, Z coordinates is provided by a mathematical model. Observations comprise ground control points, tie points, or other observations for which approximate knowledge of object and image space coordinates is available. The photogrammetric block adjustment determines the parameters of the adjustment model to best fit the observations and measurements. Object coordinates can be calculated for features measured in the images after block adjustment. In one embodiment the method is utilized for photogrammetric block adjustment of satellite imagery described by a rational polynomial (RPC) camera model rather than by a physical camera model.