Multi-level Frame Technology for Digital Elevation Data Generation

To directly address NIMA's need for Digital Terrain Elevation Data level 2 for territories above 60 degrees north latitude, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) developed and demonstrated in Phase I a new Multilevel Frame Technology for Digital Elevation DataGeneration (MF-TEC) system. Specific Phase I accomplishments include completion of preliminary design, algorithm development, and user interface and system testing with real Fairbanks object data. Also demonstrated were the accuracy of the DTED model forlevel 2 (absolute vertical accuracy of 16 m and horizontal accuracy of 20 m). In Phase II we will further develop the MF-TEC system and integrate it into a prototype system for softcopy photogrammetry that will increase the functionality ofstate-of-the-art systems. The Phase II MF-TEC will feature open system architecture, accuracy, robustness, user friendliness, cost effectiveness, and automation. Successful integration of MF-TEC with NIMA technologies for DTED generation above 60 degreesnorth will increase productivity and accuracy. The proposed technology can be customized to run on GIS, photogrammetry, and remote sensing workstations, and will be of value to many government agencies for terrain model generation.