title: General Image-Quality Equation: GIQE.
abstract: A regression-based model was developed relating aerial image quality, expressed in terms of the National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale (NIIRS), to fundamental image attributes. The General Image-Quality Equation (GIQE) treats three main attributes: scale, expressed as the ground-sampled distance; sharpness, measured from the system modulation transfer function; and the signal-to-noise ratio. The GIQE can be applied to any visible sensor and predicts NIIRS ratings with a standard error of 0.3 NIIRS. The image attributes treated by the GIQE are influenced by system design and operation parameters. The GIQE allows system designers and operators to perform trade-offs for the optimization of image quality.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leachtenauer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colburn
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salvaggio