The application of wavelets to data compression

Abstract

Modern reconnaissance sensors collect, digitize and store data at very high rates for long periods of time for analysis (both human and machine) at the end of the flight. As the information is often time critical, there is a desire to transmit the data ahead for pre-processing on the ground. The paper briefly addresses from a system standpoint, issues related to data compression. A typical system is discussed and used to suggest that wavelets rather than the joint photographic experts group (JPEG) standard may provide an attractive solution to the transmission of time critical reconnaissance data from a cost and implementation standpoint. Several examples are used to illustrate the points.