Thermal Satellite Image Correlation for High-Resolution Heat Maps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current satellite platforms struggle to achieve high spatial resolution and high radiometric precision in thermal imaging of the Earth's surface, which is essential for applications like urban heat island detection and climate modeling.

Innovation Solution

The method involves combining thermal data from a first satellite with high radiometric precision but low spatial resolution with thermal data from a second satellite with lower radiometric precision but higher spatial resolution, recorded in a temporally and spatially coregistered manner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If thermal data from a single satellite platform is used, then either high radiometric precision or high spatial resolution can be achieved, but not both simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiometric precisionVSAvoidspatial resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines thermal data from two different satellite platforms: one providing high radiometric precision (e.g., Landsat with temperature accuracy <2K) and another providing high spatial resolution (e.g., Meteosat with pixel sizes of several square kilometers). By merging these complementary data sources through spatial disaggregation techniques, the method achieves both high radiometric precision and high spatial resolution in the final heat maps, resolving the fundamental trade-off between these two parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If thermal data from multiple satellite platforms are combined, then both high radiometric precision and high spatial resolution can be achieved, but data correlation and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiometric precisionVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary spatial coregistration and temporal alignment of thermal data from multiple satellite platforms before combining them. By pre-processing the data to establish accurate spatial and temporal correspondence between different platforms, the method simplifies subsequent correlation and fusion operations, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining both high radiometric precision and spatial resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If high spatial resolution is achieved through downscaling, then spatial detail improves, but uncertainties in temperature values increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial resolutionVSAvoidtemperature accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses high radiometric precision thermal data from one satellite platform as an intermediary reference to guide the downscaling of high spatial resolution data from another platform. This intermediary dataset provides accurate temperature values that constrain the downscaling process, ensuring that spatial details are enhanced without introducing significant temperature uncertainties. The method thus resolves the trade-off by using one data type to preserve the accuracy of the other during resolution enhancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the creation of high spatial resolution heat maps with high radiometric precision, reducing uncertainties in spatial disaggregation of land surface temperatures and allowing for more accurate time series analysis.

Implementation Method 1

The temperature is, for example, not measured directly, but is derived from the radiance at the detector on board the satellite

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

Using Planck's radiation law, and having knowledge of the wavelength A, it is possible to directly infer the temperature T

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlanck's radiation law:

Data Source

PatentUS12211237B2Correlation of thermal satellite image data for generating thermal maps at high spatial resolution

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a thermal map of an area, wherein the thermal map is generated by a combination of two thermal images of different properties, and both thermal images comprise pixels associated with the area and have been recorded by satellites. The two thermal images are recorded at different times using different recording devices. Furthermore, a radiometric precision of the first thermal image is higher than that of the second thermal image, and a spatial resolution of the second thermal image is higher than that of the first thermal image. The two thermal images are used to determine a measurement value offset of a first pixel group belonging to the second thermal image and spatially associated with the area, and then corrected absolute measurement values of the pixels belonging to the second thermal image and spatially associated with the area are determined. A precise thermal map of the area is then created on this basis. The invention also relates to a method for determining a time series of thermal maps and a computer programme product for carrying out the method described.