Motion analysis within non-rigid body objects in satellite images using least squares matching

Using satellite images, an optimal solution to water motion has been presented in this study. Since temperature patterns are suitable tracers in water motion, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) images of Caspian Sea taken by MODIS sensor on board Terra satellite have been used in this study. Two daily SST images with 24 hours time interval are used as input data. Computation of templates correspondence between pairs of images is crucial within motion algorithms using non-rigid body objects. Image matching methods have been applied to estimate water body motion within the two SST images. The least squares matching technique, as a flexible technique for most data matching problems, offers an optimal spatial solution for the motion estimation. The algorithm allows for simultaneous local radiometric correction and local geometrical image orientation estimation. Actually, the correspondence between the two image templates is modeled both geometrically and radiometrically. Geometric component of the model includes six geometric transformation parameters and radiometric component of the model includes two radiometric transformation parameters. Using the algorithm, the parameters are automatically corrected, optimized and assessed iteratively by the least squares algorithm. The method used in this study, has presented more efficient and robust solution compared to the traditional motion estimation schemes.