MACS - Modular Airborne Camera System for Generating Photogrammetric High-Resolution Products

This article describes a Modular Airborne Camera System (MACS), which is based on industrial grade components. The camera system has been developed by the Department of Optical Information Systems of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Several versions have been in use since 2009 in order to acquire experimental aerial image data. The aim was to develop a system capable of acquiring image data with ground resolutions in the centimeters range easily and at low costs. These data should help to develop and to define photo-grammetric methods and products. High emphasis was put on high frame rates as well as on short integration times in order to achieve a high overlap and low motion blur. This is essential for exact 3D modeling, especially when using fast airplanes flying at low altitudes. The article describes the principles and the layout of the camera system together with its flight-specific accessories as well as the software developed for operating the system. Finally, the article delineates current and future fields of application.