Image Processing Tools

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• Image Processing Tools

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• Image Processing Tools

High-performance imagery. Simplified.

Turn your Simera Sense imagery into analysis-ready data without the complexity of building your own processing pipeline. Calibrated following ESA EDAP+ best practice guidelines.

Get to insights faster.

IPT is purpose-built for the Simera Sense xScape product range. It handles multispectral and hyperspectral payloads from raw L0 data through to orthorectified, radiometrically calibrated products.

Precise georeferencing

Direct georeferencing using satellite telemetry with GPS positioning and star tracker attitudes.

Calibrated radiometry

Seamless integration

Multi-level processing

Choose the tier that works for you.

IPT offers two distinct processing tiers. Whether you need a fast turnaround for quick image assessment or a fully calibrated, orthorectified product ready for downstream analysis, IPT has you covered.

Express Image Processing

✓ Fast turnaround for quick image assessment

✓ Pre-flight calibration coefficients

✓ Satellite telemetry-based geolocation

✓ L1B and L1C product generation

✓ Interbands geometric correction

✓ Direct georeferencing with RPC generation

Advanced Image Processing

Everything in Express Image Processing, plus:

✓ Vicarious in-flight radiometric calibration

✓ Dark current update from night-time orbits

✓ Absolute calibration using Libya-4, Niger-2, RadCalnet

✓ Cross-validation with Sentinel-2A and 2B

✓ Geometric calibration with bundle adjustment and GCPs

✓ Calibration done to ESA EDAP+ best practice guidelines

From raw telemetry to analysis-ready data.

IPT processes satellite imagery through three well-defined stages, each building on the last. Every step is traceable, calibrated, and compatible with standard downstream tools.

Raw Data Processing

Radiometric & Geometric Correction

Orthorectification

Built for the applications that matter.

IPT produces data that feeds directly into mission-critical workflows across agriculture, environmental monitoring, defence, and disaster response.

Precision agriculture

Water management

Forestry

Mining

Battlefield assessment

Disaster assessment

Ready to process your satellite imagery?

What is the Image Processing Tool (IPT)?

What are the main product levels?

The specification describes three main product levels:

• Level 0: raw satellite data with minimal processing.
• Level 1B: radiometrically corrected or calibrated and geo-referenced data that remains in sensor geometry.
• Level 1C: orthorectified and projected data suitable for direct geospatial analysis.

What is the difference between express and advanced image processing?

Express processing relies on pre-flight laboratory radiometric measurements and ancillary satellite or camera metadata to geolocate and correct imagery. It does not include in-flight calibration.

Advanced processing adds in-flight vicarious radiometric calibration and advanced geometric calibration to improve absolute radiometric and geolocation performance.

What is a Level 0 product?

A Level 0 product is raw, unprocessed data directly acquired from the satellite. It is primarily organized and packaged rather than corrected. Typical content includes original sensor readings, time and location stamps, telemetry, and auxiliary metadata.

What processing is applied to Level 0?

What does a Level 1B product provide?

What does a Level 1C product provide?

What are the key Level 1B processing steps?

• Interband geometric correction
• Direct georeferencing using telemetry, position, velocity, and attitude data
• RPC generation for geometric modelling
• Radiometric processing from DN to TOA radiance or TOA reflectance
• Optional vertical and horizontal de-striping
• Band-specific grayscale quicklook generation

What is interband geometric correction?

What is direct georeferencing?

What are Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPCs)?

How does radiometric processing work?

What extra calibration does the advanced option add?

Can I get atmospherically corrected (Level 2) products?

Which data formats are used for delivery?

What files are included in a Level 1B product?

What files are included in a Level 1C product?

What coordinate systems can Level 1C use?

What is the RGB quicklook file?

What is the RGB preview thumbnail?

What metadata is included in IPT products?

What identifiers and timestamps are stored in the general metadata section?

What CRS metadata is provided for a product?

What instrument configuration metadata is captured?

The Instrument_Configuration section stores band-level TDI settings, binning factor, and the imager acquisition mode, such as snapshot mode, line scan mode, or high accuracy hyperspectral mode.

What calibration metadata is recorded?

What processing-step metadata flags are available?

How is radiometric quality summarised in the metadata file?

How are Level 1B and Level 1C product directories named?

Both product types use a directory naming pattern that combines a free-form prefix with the processing level and the scene start acquisition timestamp. The patterns are
<PREFIX>_LEVEL1B_<START_ACQUISITION_TIME> and
<PREFIX>_LEVEL1C_<START_ACQUISITION_TIME>.

What kinds of band-specific files can appear inside a Level 1B band folder?

What kinds of band-specific files can appear inside a Level 1C band folder?

How are COG image files organised internally?

What metadata tags are written into the COG image files?

What information is stored in an RPC text file?

Does the level 1B product include RGB quicklooks?

What is embedded in the Level 1C contour KML file?

What quality information is tracked?

What do the radiometric quality values mean?

0 = good pixel
1 = missing pixel
2 = input DN saturated
3 = became saturated during DN-to-TOA conversion
4 = became negative during DN-to-TOA conversion
5 = interpolated from neighbouring pixels

When should users choose Level 1C over Level 1B?

How is geometric accuracy ensured?

What cameras does IPT support?

Who develops and maintains IPT?

IPT is a collaboration between Simera Sense and VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research). VITO provides the processing software and vicarious calibration services, while Simera Sense offers the camera hardware and integration.