Application of Ray Following Algorithm to High Resolution Satellite Image Simulation

This paper describes a new algorithm named as ray following algorithm which is applied for high-resolution satellite image simulation. The problems of the conventional ray tracing algorithm are pointed out especially when terrain elevations vary abruptly. The proposed algorithm follows the directional ray vector sequentially and thoroughly in order to determine the crossing point of the ray with the terrain surface. This way of sequential height comparison method is regarded as the only way to obtain accurate surface cross-section when a highly variant digital surface model is used. The experimental results show and compare the validities of the conventional and proposed algorithms.