Image coding for high resolution remote sensing imaging instruments

Remote sensing and scientific instruments are generating increasing volumes of data which has to be sent back to Earth for processing, interpretation and dissemination to end users. Telemetry links with limited bandwidth form a communications bottleneck for transferring the large amounts of data collected to ground. Data compression and other data rate reduction techniques are becoming vital to the success of future missions. The paper assesses the data compression requirements of present and future high resolution space-based imaging instruments. A brief review is made of several promising image coding techniques for use on remote sensing images. The importance of the effect of image data compression on subsequent processing algorithms is stressed and the constraints on technology for use in on-board image coding systems are explained