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 40-centimeter (cm) WV3 images collected over Recife, Brazil.
Monthly Product Updates
This month we have two very important WorldView-3 updates to share with our readers.
- Starting on February 25th, the US government will ease restrictions on satellite imagery and 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, beta versions of 16-band multispectral WV3 data will be made commercially available as well as pricing. We are happy to share this new pricing with you if you email us at sales@apollomapping.com. 16-band multispectral WV3 will feature 8 bands of shortwave infrared (SWIR) data that 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 short-wave 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.
- With the easing of US government regulations, we will be able to provide WV3 imagery at a maximum of 30-cm resolution during Q1 2015.
- 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; 8 shortwave infrared bands which are crucial for geological studies; and 12 CAVIS bands to detect water vapor, dissolved aerosols, snow, clouds and more.
- 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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