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  • 6/22/2018

Artificial reflectors form TUM logo on satellite image

Anniversary greetings from space

On the 150th anniversary of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the satellite TerraSAR-X sent a very special greeting: On June 12th scientists set up 26 reflectors on the southern lawn of the Alte Pinakothek Museum. The satellite, which flew over Munich that day, perceived the reflectors as glowing dots that made up the TUM logo appearing on the radar image.

The TUM logo is clearly visible on the image generated using the raw data from the TerraSAR-X satellite.
The TUM logo is clearly visible on the image generated using the raw data from the TerraSAR-X satellite. (Image: DLR 2018, TerraSAR-X Scientific Proposal NM_xiao.zhu_LAN2188)

The experiment is based on a joint research project of the TUM and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). "We have developed a new measurement method that allows us to use radar reflectors for surveying," explains Prof. Michael Eineder, Honorary Professor at the TUM and Head of Department at the DLR Institute for Remote Sensing Technology. As with GPS, highly accurate, three-dimensional position measurements can be made. However, instead of GPS devices only simple reflectors, which can be made of inexpensive material, are required on the ground.

The researchers wanted to use their new method to send their congratulations from space for the TUM anniversary. They arranged the so-called corner reflectors on the southern lawn of the Alte Pinakothek Museum to emulate the TUM logo. And indeed, the satellite images created from the raw data show the logo made of bright dots.

The operation also had a scientific aspect, says Michael Schmitt of the Department of Signal Processing in Earth Observation. "In this experiment, we were able to demonstrate that the reflectors, with an edge length of 50 cm, dominate the natural reflections from buildings and cars in the urban surroundings and are thus ideally suited for surveying."

Among other things, the new methodology will be deployed for earth surveying in the future and will be helping to improve the accuracy of digital maps.

Further information

The planning and execution of the event involved members of the Chair of Remote Sensing Technology, the Professorship for Signal Processing in Earth Observation and the Chair of Geodesy, as well as the DLR Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF). The joint research project, High Resolution Geodetic Earth Observation, of the DLR@Uni alliance Munich Aerospace also involved employees of the Institute of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy and the DLR German Space Operations Center (GSOC).

Publications:

  • Gisinger, C.; Willberg, M.; Balss, U.; Klügel, T.; Mähler, S.; Pail, R.; Eineder, M.: Differential geodetic stereo SAR with TerraSAR-X by exploiting small multi-directional radar reflectors. Journal of Geodesy 91 (1), 2017, 53-67.
  • Montazeri, S.; Gisinger, C.; Eineder, M.; Zhu, X. X.; Automatic Detection and Positioning of Ground Control Points Using TerraSAR-X Multi-Aspect Acquisitions. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 56 (5), 2018, 2613-2632.

Contact:

For the experiment
Dr.-Ing. Michael Schmitt
Technical University of Munich
Professorship of Signal Processing in Earth Observation
Tel: +49-89-289-22643
m.schmitt@tum.de

For the research project
Hon.-Prof. Michael Eineder
DLR Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF)
Tel. +49 8153 281396,
Michael.Eineder@dlr.de

Technical University of Munich

Corporate Communications Center

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