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Posted on April 7th, 2015

A Monthly Update on WorldView-3 – 30-cm Resolution and SWIR Data

Every time we look at WorldView-3 (WV3) imagery, we are blown away. So we have decided to make this article a monthly feature for the viewing joy of our valued readers. This month, we feature three color 30-centimeter (cm) WV3 images collected over Pyongyang, North Korea.

Monthly Product Updates



For many of you, this is the first time you have seen 30-cm imagery collected by a satellite and this data is truly amazing! Above are three 30-cm color images collected by WorldView-3 on September 20, 2014 over Pyongyang, North Korea. To see Rungrado May Day Stadium in 50-cm Pléiades 1 resolution, follow this link. These images have been photo enhanced by Apollo Mapping. (Images Courtesy: DigitalGlobe)

This month we have two very important WorldView-3 updates to share with our readers (some of you may have seen these updates last month too!).

  • Starting on February 25th, the US government eased restrictions on satellite imagery to allow the sale of 30-cm panchromatic and pansharpened and 1.2-meter (m) multispectral products. The 2-m panchromatic and pansharpened and 8-m multispectral product ban remains in effect for Israel.
  • Also starting on February 25th, 8-band shortwave infrared (SWIR) WV3 data was made commercially available. WorldView-3’s eight bands of shortwave infrared data can be crucial to hydrocarbon and mineral exploration. WV3 CAVIS bands will not be sold at this time.

If you have not heard of the recently-launched satellite, WorldView-3, here are the features that really set it apart from the competition:

  • Improved Resolution
    • Higher resolution means you can see more detail in WV3 imagery.
    • Data collected at nadir will have 31-centimeter (cm) panchromatic, 1.24-meter (m) visible and near infrared, 3.7-m shortwave infrared and 30-m CAVIS bands.
    • At 20 degrees off-nadir, the resolution is 34-cm panchromatic, 1.38-m visible and near infrared and 4.1-m short-wave infrared.
    • Per US government regulation, all SWIR orders are produced at a maximum resolution of 7.5-m. CAVIS bands are not available for purchase at this time.
  • Additional Spectral Bands
    • If spectral analysis is part of your project, then no other satellite can match WV3 with its: 8 bands of visible and near-infrared data; and 8 shortwave infrared bands which are crucial for geological studies.
  • Better Positional Accuracy
    • With accuracies of 3.5-m CE90% or better (without ground control even!), WV3 has no rivals for its enhanced positional accuracy.
  • Daily Revisits
    • At 40 degrees latitude, WV3 will be able to image each location daily with 1-meter or better resolution and then every 4.5 days at 34-cm resolution or better.
  • Increased Collection Capacity
    • WV3 features a 13.1-km swath width (at nadir) with the ability to collect up to 680,000 square kilometer (sq km) of high-resolution data per day.
    • Improved control movement gyros translate into larger maximum contiguous collection areas per pass, with up to ~7,500 sq km of mono imagery and ~3,000 sq km of stereo possible.

If you are interested in WorldView-3 imagery for your next project, please let us know by phone, 303-993-3863, or by email, sales@apollomapping.com.

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