A comparative study of the segmentation of weighted aggregation and multiresolution segmentation

Multiresolution segmentation (MRS) algorithm has been widely used to handle very-high-resolution (VHR) remote sensing images in the past decades. Unfortunately, segmentation quality is limited by the dependency of parameter selection on users’ experience and diverse images. Contrarily, the segmentation by weighted aggregation (SWA) can partly overcome the above limitations and produce an optimal segmentation for maximizing the homogeneity within segments and the heterogeneity across segments. However, SWA is solely tested and justified with digital photos in computer vision field instead of VHR images. This study aims at evaluating SWA performance on VHR imagery. First, multiscale spectral, shape, and texture features are defined to measure homogeneity of image objects for segmentation. Second, SWA is implemented to handle QuickBird, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and GF-1 VHR images and further compared with MRS in eCognition software to demonstrate the applicability of SWA to diverse images in building, vegetation and water, forest stands, farmland, and mountain areas. Third, the results are fully evaluated with quantitative measurements on segmented objects and classification-based accuracy assessment on geographic information system vector data. The results indicate that SWA can produce higher quality segmentations, need fewer parameters and manual interventions, create fewer segmentation levels, incorporate more features, and obtain larger classification accuracy than MRS.     

基于资源一号02C卫星数据的面向对象的森林植被分类

资源一号02C卫星是我国自主研发的高分辨率卫星。利用面向对象的信息提取技术,开展基于资源一号02C高分辨率数据的林区植被分类,具体分为三个步骤:1)对影像进行多尺度分割,获取最优尺度;2)根据各类地物特点及相互间关系,建立地物类型层次;3)结合光谱、纹理、形状多种对象特征,进行地物分类。以广西猫儿山自然保护区为例,根据区内地物特点,将地物分为针叶林、阔叶林、竹林、灌丛、耕地、非植被、阴影等7种类型,经检验表明该方法总体分类精度达到82.24%,kappa系数为0.77,优于面向对象的最邻近法和基于像元的最大似然分类。     

基于最优尺度和规则的高分辨率影像分类研究

高分辨率影像的广泛应用推进面向对象影像分析(OBIA)的发展,而分割作为面向对象分类的关键步骤,其尺度的选择直接关系到地物信息的提取。空间尺度是地物的固有属性,在合适的分割尺度下可以更好地挖掘地物信息。本文结合最大面积法和分割质量评价模型对张山营镇影像进行分割实验,先通过分析对象最大面积初步得到最优尺度范围,后结合分割质量评价模型以确定最优分割尺度层次。在此基础上,综合样本提取的光谱、纹理等特征进行规则训练,最终完成面向对象的土地覆被分类研究。结果显示:基于多层次最优尺度的规则分类方法获得更好的分类结果,其总体精度为88.8%,Kappa系数为0.861,而基于单一尺度的最邻近法总体精度81.4%,Kappa系数0.773,基于单一尺度的规则分类法总体精度为83.2%,Kappa系数为0.85。     

GF-2影像城市地物分类方法探讨

GF-2影像具有较高的分辨率和丰富的光谱、几何及纹理信息。为了深入探索GF-2影像城市地物分类方法,本文以四川省隆昌县城为研究区,提出了一种基于最优尺度和规则的面向对象分类法。在影像分割的基础上,通过构建评价函数,并结合最大面积法选取最优尺度,进而构建分层体系,提取影像的光谱、几何及纹理特征建立规则并分类,且将其与单尺度下的面向对象和基于像素分类法进行对比分析。结果表明,本文方法的总体精度和Kappa系数分别为93.33%和0.92。     

A shape-based segmentation method for mobile laser scanning point clouds

Segmentation of mobile laser point clouds of urban scenes into objects is an important step for post-processing (e.g., interpretation) of point clouds. Point clouds of urban scenes contain numerous objects with significant size variability, complex and incomplete structures, and holes or variable point densities, raising great challenges for the segmentation of mobile laser point clouds. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a shape-based segmentation method. The proposed method first calculates the optimal neighborhood size of each point to derive the geometric features associated with it, and then classifies the point clouds according to geometric features using support vector machines (SVMs). Second, a set of rules are defined to segment the classified point clouds, and a similarity criterion for segments is proposed to overcome over-segmentation. Finally, the segmentation output is merged based on topological connectivity into a meaningful geometrical abstraction. The proposed method has been tested on point clouds of two urban scenes obtained by different mobile laser scanners. The results show that the proposed method segments large-scale mobile laser point clouds with good accuracy and computationally effective time cost, and that it segments pole-like objects particularly well.     

A multi-band approach to unsupervised scale parameter selection for multi-scale image segmentation

Image segmentation is one of key steps in object based image analysis of very high resolution images. Selecting the appropriate scale parameter becomes a particularly important task in image segmentation. In this study, an unsupervised multi-band approach is proposed for scale parameter selection in the multi-scale image segmentation process, which uses spectral angle to measure the spectral homogeneity of segments. With the increasing scale parameter, spectral homogeneity of segments decreases until they match the objects in the real world. The index of spectral homogeneity is thus used to determine multiple appropriate scale parameters. The performance of the proposed method is compared to a single-band based method through qualitative visual interpretation and quantitative discrepancy measures. Both methods are applied for segmenting two images: a QuickBird scene of an urban area within Beijing, China and a Woldview-2 scene of a suburban area in Kashiwa, Japan. The proposed multi-band based segmentation scale parameter selection method outperforms the single-band based method with the better recognition for diverse land cover objects in different urban landscapes.     

GF-2影像面向对象典型城区地物提取方法

国产高分遥感影像信息丰富,提供了精准的地物空间细节,深入研究高分数据处理及其提取城区地类目标信息的方法具有重要意义。本文以国产高分二号（GF-2）遥感影像为数据源,利用规则集的面向对象分类方法,通过ESP尺度分析工具选取得出最优分割尺度,建立各类地物的特征体系及分类规则,最终提取出研究区典型城区地物信息,并将之与传统基于像元的SVM监督分类结果作比较。结果表明：规则集的面向对象分类总体精度为92.23%,Kappa系数为0.9,比SVM监督分类有大幅度提高。对高分二号等高分辨率影像,面向对象的分类方法精度更高,图示效果更好,是城区地物提取的有效方法。     

Comparing supervised and unsupervised multiresolution segmentation approaches for extracting buildings from very high resolution imagery

Although multiresolution segmentation (MRS) is a powerful technique for dealing with very high resolution imagery, some of the image objects that it generates do not match the geometries of the target objects, which reduces the classification accuracy. MRS can, however, be guided to produce results that approach the desired object geometry using either supervised or unsupervised approaches. Although some studies have suggested that a supervised approach is preferable, there has been no comparative evaluation of these two approaches. Therefore, in this study, we have compared supervised and unsupervised approaches to MRS. One supervised and two unsupervised segmentation methods were tested on three areas using QuickBird and WorldView-2 satellite imagery. The results were assessed using both segmentation evaluation methods and an accuracy assessment of the resulting building classifications. Thus, differences in the geometries of the image objects and in the potential to achieve satisfactory thematic accuracies were evaluated. The two approaches yielded remarkably similar classification results, with overall accuracies ranging from 82% to 86%. The performance of one of the unsupervised methods was unexpectedly similar to that of the supervised method; they identified almost identical scale parameters as being optimal for segmenting buildings, resulting in very similar geometries for the resulting image objects. The second unsupervised method produced very different image objects from the supervised method, but their classification accuracies were still very similar. The latter result was unexpected because, contrary to previously published findings, it suggests a high degree of independence between the segmentation results and classification accuracy. The results of this study have two important implications. The first is that object-based image analysis can be automated without sacrificing classification accuracy, and the second is that the previously accepted idea that classification is dependent on segmentation is challenged by our unexpected results, casting doubt on the value of pursuing ‘optimal segmentation’. Our results rather suggest that as long as under-segmentation remains at acceptable levels, imperfections in segmentation can be ruled out, so that a high level of classification accuracy can still be achieved.     

遥感模式分类中的空间统计学应用——以面向对象的遥感影像农田提取为例

如何有效地从遥感图像中提取所需信息,是遥感图像处理和应用的关键,而尺度选择问题一直是影响遥感信息提取精度的关键问题之一。本文论述了利用空间统计学方法解决遥感影像模式分类中的尺度问题的理论基础。针对面向对象影像分析问题,将影响遥感影像多尺度分割的尺度分割参数概括为空间属性分割参数、光谱属性分割参数和影像对象面积阈值参数,并分别提出了基于统计学的尺度参数估计方法。以SPOT-5影像面向对象农田提取为例,基于变异函数方法进行了尺度优选试验,系列尺度分类试验结果表明基于空间统计学尺度估计得到的尺度分割结果进行分类能得到最高的精度,进而证明了基于空间统计学方法进行面向对象信息提取尺度估计的有效性。该方法是完全数据驱动的方法,基本不需要先验知识参与。不同于以往分割后评价的尺度选择方法会占用大量计算资源且耗费大量时间,本文提出的方法不仅能在一定程度上保证面向对象信息提取的精度,而且在一定程度上也提高了面向对象信息提取的效率和自动化程度。     

面向对象影像多尺度分割最大异质性参数估计

多尺度分割是遥感影像分析的关键步骤,影像分割过程中的尺度参数选择直接关系到面向对象影像分析的质量和精度。首先,总结了面向对象影像分析中尺度概念的内涵,分析遥感影像空间和属性两大基本特征,依据空间统计和光谱统计获得理论上最优的空间尺度分割参数、属性尺度分割参数。其次,运用了基于谱空间统计的高分辨率影像分割尺度估计方法,分析了分形网络演化多尺度分割与影像谱空间统计特征的关系,进而将基于谱空间统计的面向对象影像分析尺度参数应用于分形网络演化多尺度分割算法中,最后,对其参数的合理性进行验证。研究采用高空间分辨率IKONOS和SPOT 5影像数据,选择建筑实验区和农田实验区进行空间和光谱特征统计,以进一步估计分割中的最佳尺度参数。使用分形网络演化方法对图像进行分割,利用监督分类对本文提出的尺度估计方法进行验证,验证结果表明尺度估计方法可以一定程度上保证后续的面向对象影像分类的精度。不同于以往分割后评价的尺度选择方法会需要大量的运算量,本文方法不需要先验知识的参与,且在分割前就可以自适应地估计出相对较为合适的尺度参数,提高了面向对象信息提取的自动化程度。     

融合高分影像和LiDAR数据的城市道路提取

为避免由于城市道路复杂及树木建筑的阴影遮挡导致从遥感影像中提取道路信息不准确的问题,本文采用高分影像和LiDAR数据相融合的方法实现城市道路的提取,并使用一种基于最小面积外接矩形（MABR）的后处理改进方法进行完善。首先对试验区进行数据配准;然后应用FNEA算法进行图像分割,并使用随机森林分类法进行分类,将影像融合和对象形状指数等相关算子应用到道路提取中;最后去除植被和建筑物,完善道路填充,提取出道路完整信息。结果多伦多和台安试验区的道路完整度分别为95.41%和90.84%,准确度分别为83.07%和85.63%。本文方法可有效去除伪道路信息,提高道路提取完整度,较好地实现了道路信息提取。     

遥感图像分割的迭代上下文融合小波域HMT模型

由于已有小波域HMT(hidden Markov tree)图像分割算法在上下文融合阶段直接对数据块大小不等的相邻两尺度进行信息融合,导致细节信息分割不充分。为此,提出一种基于迭代上下文融合的小波域HMT模型图像分割算法。该算法在上下文融合阶段采用迭代融合方法,将每一尺度的融合结果作为该尺度的上下文信息再次融合,并设置变化阈值作为迭代终止条件。利用Brodatz纹理组合图像和Formosat-2遥感图像进行分割试验。定性和定量分析表明本文算法能改善图像分割的细节效果,进一步提高图像分割精度。     

融合随机森林和超像素分割的建筑物自动提取

建筑物是城市空间的重要部分,建筑物信息的提取对基础地理空间数据库更新、城市规划、城市动态监测等具有重要意义.基于遥感影像数据提取建筑物信息具有非常广泛的应用,本文提出了一种基于随机森林和超像素分割算法,并从机载激光点云和数字航空影像数据中自动提取建筑物的方法.试验选取广州市海珠区某处为研究区域,结果表明:在一般的城市区...     

利用多尺度融合进行面向对象的遥感影像变化检测

在面向对象的变化检测过程中,确定对象的最优分割尺度直接关系到后续的变化信息提取与分析。针对该问题,提出了基于多尺度分割与融合的对象级变化检测新方法。首先,利用由细到粗的尺度分割来获取不同尺寸的目标对象,然后依据对象的特征进行变化向量分析得到各个尺度上的变化检测结果。为了提高变化检测的精度,本文引入模糊融合及两种决策级融合方法进行多尺度融合,并利用SPOT5多光谱遥感图像进行试验。与像素级的变化检测方法相比,总体精度提高了10%左右,试验结果证明了这几种融合策略的有效性和可行性。     

结合特征选择的CVA多尺度遥感影像变化检测

针对在多时相变化检测中,面向对象方法无法较好地检测影像中的细微变化,受分割效果以及面向像素方法的影响出现较高虚警率等问题,本文提出了一种结合基于像素的多特征变化向量分析法（CVA）与基于对象的多层次分割的联合判别方法。首先提取不同时相的光谱与纹理特征,利用最大相关最小冗余（mRMR）算法进行特征选择并通过CVA得到像素级变化检测结果;然后对两幅影像进行叠合分割,利用区域合并策略进行不同尺度检测并获取各尺度检测结果;最后结合多种检测结果进行融合,获得最终变化检测结果。检测结果表明本文所提方法能有效降低漏检率,同时提高了检测的准确性。     

The comparison index: A tool for assessing the accuracy of image segmentation

Segmentation algorithms applied to remote sensing data provide valuable information about the size, distribution and context of landscape objects at a range of scales. However, there is a need for well-defined and robust validation tools to assessing the reliability of segmentation results. Such tools are required to assess whether image segments are based on ‘real’ objects, such as field boundaries, or on artefacts of the image segmentation algorithm. These tools can be used to improve the reliability of any land-use/land-cover classifications or landscape analyses that is based on the image segments.The validation algorithm developed in this paper aims to: (a) localize and quantify segmentation inaccuracies; and (b) allow the assessment of segmentation results on the whole. The first aim is achieved using object metrics that enable the quantification of topological and geometric object differences. The second aim is achieved by combining these object metrics into a ‘Comparison Index’, which allows a relative comparison of different segmentation results. The approach demonstrates how the Comparison Index CI can be used to guide trial-and-error techniques, enabling the identification of a segmentation scale H that is close to optimal. Once this scale has been identified a more detailed examination of the CI–H- diagrams can be used to identify precisely what H value and associated parameter settings will yield the most accurate image segmentation results.The procedure is applied to segmented Landsat scenes in an agricultural area in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The segmentations were generated using the ‘Fractal Net Evolution Approach’, which is implemented in the eCognition software.     

Landsat 8多光谱数据辅助下的高分影像多尺度分割

为解决高分影像分割的边缘锯齿性明显等问题,本文以黑龙江省伊春市桦皮羌子林场为研究区开展了有无多光谱数据辅助的高分影像分割对比试验。首先,本文设计了多尺度分割算法的相同尺度参数下分割试验,确定了该算法分割GF-2影像时应采用的最佳同质性准则组合参数;然后,基于影像分割对象同质性局部方差变化率反映最优分割尺度的思想,利用ESP2工具找出固定尺度范围内的最优分割尺度范围;最后执行最佳同质性准则组合参数配合下的最优分割尺度范围内各个尺度下的多尺度分割,并采用矢量距离指数、紧密度指数、形状指数对2种分割试验结果进行了评价。结果表明,与GF-2影像独立分割相比,Landsat 8多光谱数据辅助下的GF-2影像分割在矢量距离指数、紧密度指数、形状指数的质量上均有提升,平均提升率分别为8.05%、28.40%、11.76%。     

SAR图像不同油膜特征的最佳分割方法选择

SAR图像溢油分割是SAR溢油监测中一个重要环节。文中选取4种不同形状、尺寸和对比度的SAR油膜数据,分别采用双峰阈值分割法、最大熵分割法、区域生长法、分水岭算法、图割法、水平集方法等6种方法进行溢油信息提取,探讨适合于不同油膜特征的最佳提取方法。结合现有尺度分割标准,提出一种SAR图像溢油信息评价指数——有效分割指数(Effective Segmentation Index,ESI),对不同分割方法得到的溢油提取结果进行定量评价,得出了不同特征油膜所适合的最佳分割方法。     

基于重构的多尺度目标提取与分割

通过形态重构开闭算子构造了一个多尺度的目标提取和分割算法.首先用结构元素nB对影像分别作基于重构的Top-Hat和Bottom-Hat变换,得到所有不能放入nB的亮和暗的目标;然后再用结构元素(n-1)B对影像作开运算,消除所有不能放入该结构元素的目标.那么结果影像中就只剩下能同时放入nB和(n-1)B的目标.对不同尺度的结果影像进行处理,就可以得到不同尺度下的目标分割结果.重构是一个连通è区域算子,连通区域是运算的基本单位,所以不会改变影像中边缘的位置,同时不会有新的边缘和虚假的极值出现.     

面向对象的多尺度加权联合稀疏表示的高空间分辨率遥感影像分类

针对高空间分辨率遥感影像中的地物具有多尺度特性,以及各个尺度的对象特征对地物分类精度的影响具有较强的尺度效性,并结合面向对象影像分析方法和多尺度联合稀疏表示方法在高空间分辨率遥感影像分类中的各自优点,提出了一种面向对象的多尺度加权稀疏表示的高空间分辨率遥感影像分类算法。首先,采用多尺度分割算法获得多尺度分割结果并提取对象的多尺度特征;然后,根据影像对象的多尺度分割质量测度计算各尺度的对象权重,构建面向对象的多尺度加权联合稀疏表示模型;最后,采用2个国产GF-2高空间分辨率遥感数据集和1个高光谱-高空间分辨率航空遥感数据集（WashingtonD.C.数据）验证该算法的有效性。试验结果表明,与SVM、像素级稀疏表示、单尺度和多尺度对象级稀疏表示和深度学习等算法相比较,本文算法获得了较高的OA和Kappa分类精度,提高了各个尺度地物的分类精度,有效抑止了地物分类结果中的椒盐噪声现象,同时保持大尺度地物的区域性和小尺度地物的细节信息。