Satellite-derived bathymetry based on iterative fusion of active lidar photons and passive pseudo-photons

Satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is increasingly being recognized as a cost-effective technique for acquiring extensive and high-resolution bathymetric data through the inversion of passive optical remote sensing imagery. This study introduces a novel SDB method based on iterative fusion of active...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qixin Hu, Jizhe Li, Liang Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-08-01
Series:International Journal of Digital Earth
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2543568
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Summary:Satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is increasingly being recognized as a cost-effective technique for acquiring extensive and high-resolution bathymetric data through the inversion of passive optical remote sensing imagery. This study introduces a novel SDB method based on iterative fusion of active lidar photons and passive pseudo-photons (SDB-IFAP), which seeks to enhance bathymetric retrieval by integrating active lidar data with passive imagery, thereby enriching studies on the interactions between these systems. Effectiveness of the SDB-IFAP was evaluated by comparison with in situ data of four areas, which indicated that SDB-IFAP achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.59–0.84 m and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.45–0.66 m in detecting active lidar photons. Furthermore, the accuracy of the bathymetry retrieved through SDB-IFAP was notably high, with RMSE of 0.85–1.40 m and MAE of 0.60–1.06 m. The success of SDB-IFAP is attributed to the calibration derived from active lidar and the contribution of passive imagery, suggesting that advancements in spaceborne sensor technology will further enhance the capabilities of the SDB.
ISSN:1753-8947
1753-8955