Adaptive Least Squares Correlation: A Powerful Image Matching Technique

The Adaptive Least Squares Correlation is a very potent and flexible technique for all kinds of data matching problems. Here its application to image matching is outlined. It allows for simultaneous radiometric corrections and local geometrical image shaping, whereby the system parameters are automatically assessed, corrected, and thus optimized during the least squares iterations. The various tools of least squares estimation can be favourably utilized for the assessment of the correlation quality. Furthermore, the system allows for stabilization and improvement of the correlation procedure through the simultaneous consideration of geometrical constraints, e.g. the collinearity condition. Some exciting new perspectives are emphasized, as for example multiphoto correlation, multitemporal and multisensor correlation, multipoint correlation, and simultaneous correlation/triangulation. 1