IKONOS data is available in a variety of products distributed originally by Space Imaging. Its most economical product, IKONOS GEO, is a simple image file with positional accuracy of up to 15 meters, not including terrain effects. To orthorectify IKONOS GEO images, use Optical Satellite Modeling, which provides accuracy of 1-to-2 meters with the collection of 10 or more ground control points (GCPs).
The vendor also distributed the IKONOS GEO Ortho Kit, a product that contains the rational function coefficients, called Image Geometry Model (IGM) or Rapid Positioning Capability (RPC), which are used to define the rational functions math model. Using the rational functions math model provides accuracy of 10-to-25 meters; however, adding one or two GCPs improves the accuracy to 1-to-2 meters. You can also use Optical Satellite Modeling with the IKONOS GEO Ortho Kit, in which case the rational function coefficients are not used to build the math-model solution.
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