Applications to Lunar Remote Sensing - 3D Computer Vision: Efficient Methods and Applications - page 306

Chapter 8
Applications to Lunar Remote Sensing
The application of three-dimensional computer vision methods to the domain of lu-
nar remote sensing addressed in this chapter concentrates on the derivation of digital
elevation models (DEMs) of small parts of the lunar surface at high lateral resolu-
tion and high vertical accuracy. Section 8.1 provides a general overview of existing
methods used for constructing DEMs of planetary bodies and the corresponding data
sets. The three-dimensional reconstruction of lunar craters at high resolution, i.e. be-
yond a determination of their depth and rim height, is regarded in Sect. 8.2 , while
Sect. 8.3 discusses the three-dimensional reconstruction of lunar wrinkle ridges and
tectonic faults. Section 8.4 describes the generation of DEMs of lunar domes, subtle
volcanic features on the Moon.
8.1 Three-Dimensional Surface Reconstruction Methods
for Planetary Remote Sensing
A general overview of activities in the field of topographic mapping of plane-
tary bodies in the inner and the outer solar system is provided in Sect. 8.1.1.1 .
The utilised methods can be divided into active approaches, shadow length mea-
surements, classical photogrammetric techniques, and photoclinometric approaches.
Section 8.1.2 describes how the reflectance behaviour of planetary regolith surfaces
encountered for bodies without an atmosphere in the inner solar system, i.e. Mer-
cury, the Moon, and the asteroids, is modelled in the context of three-dimensional
reconstruction of such surfaces based on intensity-based methods. These models
are a basis for the work about topographic mapping of the lunar surface described
in Sects. 8.2 - 8.4 .
8.1.1 Topographic Mapping of the Terrestrial Planets
8.1.1.1 Active Methods
Three-dimensional reconstruction of planetary surfaces can be performed by either
active or passive methods. Active methods mainly involve radar or laser altimetry.