Geocoding

PARGE® is the orthorectification and direct geocoding software for airborne optical scanner data. It performs an orthorectification of line scanner imagery using a digital elevation model on the basis of high precision flight parameters such as GPS position and attitude angles. Using accurate digital elevation models and optional ground control points, sub-pixel geometric accuracy is achieved. The program is suited for the correction of all kinds of airborne scanner imagery and is optimized for airborne hyperspectral instruments. Directly supported sensors are: NEO HYSPEX and Mjolnir, Specim AISA Fenix/AFX-10/AFX-17, Itres CASI/SASI/TASI, Hyvista HyMap, Resonon Pika, Corning Shark, Headwall Hyperspec, and more.

Development History

In 1991, an AVIRIS-based campaign initiated the research in hyperspectral data processing in Europe and also in Switzerland. In the course of these activities, researchers at the Remote Sensing Laboratories of the University of Zurich started looking into the geometric problem of airborne imaging spectrometer data. First successful orthorectification of AVIRIS data over rugged terrain in central Switzerland was shown by Peter Meyer [1994]. In 1997, these initial ideas were taken over by Daniel Schläpfer after the demand for such a program was given. An operational environment was then implemented for the parametric orthorectification of airborne scanner data, wherefrom the first first version became available in 1998 named PARGE (PARametric GEocoding). The software evolved by adding various sensor systems and improving the boresight processing (2016), extending to support of drone based hyperspectral processing (2020) and the processing of hyperspectral point clouds (2024).

The work was initially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Nationalfonds). Later, the Remote Sensing Laboratories of the University of Zurich supported the further development. In spring 2000 ‘ReSe Applications Schläpfer’ was founded for further development and commercial distribution of PARGE and related software under license of the University of Zurich. The software is currently actively maintained and developed by Daniel Schläpfer (ReSe Applications LLC).