Background
NASA’s Ames Stereo Pipeline (ASP) is a suite of free, open-source tools used to generate value-added data products and new insights from images taken by satellites and aerial cameras. ASP produces high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) representations of the Earth’s surface.
Common outputs include digital elevation models (DEMs), orthoimages, point clouds, and textured meshes, which are essential for a range of applications. However, ASP is currently packaged as command-line tools that require advanced user expertise. The Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG) 2024 assessment found that agencies would benefit from a more user-friendly graphical interface for ASP that operates in the cloud and has clearer documentation.
Status: In Development
A team is currently exploring the operationalization of ASP to create a “point and click” stereo image processing tool. The solution will involve building a web-based front-end interface that guides users through the selection of input datasets, simplifies parameter configuration, triggers automated satellite image data retrieval, and runs ASP processing in a scalable cloud environment.
The user interface will provide previews and downloads of output objects for small areas in near real-time, as well as a job management system for larger areas with longer runtimes. Because ASP is open source and complementary to private sector offerings, the private sector can incorporate aspects of ASP into their holdings.
Solution Characteristics
| Platforms | Worldview-1/2/3, GeoEye-1, Legion, BlackSky, SkySat, Umbra, ICEYE, Terra |
|---|---|
| Temporal Frequency | Variable, hourly to daily for point targets |
| Latency | Hours to days |
| Spatial Coverage | Global land and shallow-water bathymetry |
| Spatial Resolution | 1-2 m DEMs; 0.3-0.5 m orthoimages |
Societal Impact
This solution will significantly improve the usability and accessibility of the ASP software, enabling an expanded user base of scientists and engineers across federal agencies to obtain elevation data products that precisely capture the dynamic nature of the Earth’s surface. Accurate, up-to-date surface topography is an essential input dataset for many applications, including flood inundation, forest and mineral resource assessment, and land hazard assessment.
Solution Resources
Need help using this solution? For more information, visit the following resources: