Rapid,high-resolution detection of environmental change over continental scales from satellite data – the Earth Observation Data Cube

The effort and cost required to convert satellite Earth Observation (EO) data into meaningful geophysical variables has prevented the systematic analysis of all available observations. To overcome these problems, we utilise an integrated High Performance Computing and Data environment to rapidly process, restructure and analyse the Australian Landsat data archive. In this approach, the EO data are assigned to a common grid framework that spans the full geospatial and temporal extent of the observations – the EO Data Cube. This approach is pixel-based and incorporates geometric and spectral calibration and quality assurance of each Earth surface reflectance measurement. We demonstrate the utility of the approach with rapid time-series mapping of surface water across the entire Australian continent using 27 years of continuous, 25?m resolution observations. Our preliminary analysis of the Landsat archive shows how the EO Data Cube can effectively liberate high-resolution EO data from their complex sensor-specific data structures and revolutionise our ability to measure environmental change.     

A scalable cyberinfrastructure and cloud computing platform for forest aboveground biomass estimation based on the Google Earth Engine

ABSTRACT

Earth observation (EO) data, such as high-resolution satellite imagery or LiDAR, has become one primary source for forests Aboveground Biomass (AGB) mapping and estimation. However, managing and analyzing the large amount of globally or locally available EO data remains a great challenge. The Google Earth Engine (GEE), which leverages cloud-computing services to provide powerful capabilities on the management and rapid analysis of various types of EO data, has appeared as an inestimable tool to address this challenge. In this paper, we present a scalable cyberinfrastructure for on-the-fly AGB estimation, statistics, and visualization over a large spatial extent. This cyberinfrastructure integrates state-of-the-art cloud computing applications, including GEE, Fusion Tables, and the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to establish a scalable, highly extendable, and high-performance analysis environment. Two experiments were designed to demonstrate its superiority in performance over the traditional desktop environment and its scalability in processing complex workflows. In addition, a web portal was developed to integrate the cyberinfrastructure with some visualization tools (e.g. Google Maps, Highcharts) to provide a Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) and online visualization for both general public and geospatial researchers.     

Mapping fuels at the wildland-urban interface using colour ortho-images and LiDAR data

Fuel type mapping of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in support of fire spread simulation modelling should include both natural and urban features. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of (1) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) structural data, (2) ortho-image data and (3) a combination of both as input to an object-based classification approach for mapping fuels within two WUI areas in San Diego, California. A separability analysis was utilized to determine the surface topographical and spectral layers most influential for discriminating WUI fuels. An accuracy assessment revealed that the combination of LiDAR and ortho-image data inputs substantially increased classification accuracy by 20–30% and achieved overall accuracies?>?80%. Results from the study provide knowledge on how reliable fuel types within the WUI can be mapped using high-resolution LiDAR and ortho-image data while presenting new insights into fuel type mapping.     

Multiple spectral similarity metrics for surface materials identification using hyperspectral data

Modern hyperspectral imaging and non-imaging spectroradiometer has the capability to acquire high-resolution spectral reflectance data required for surface materials identification and mapping. Spectral similarity metrics, due to their mathematical simplicity and insensitiveness to the number of reference labelled spectra, have been increasingly used for material mapping by labelling reflectance spectra in hyperspectral data labelling. For a particular hyperspectral data set, the accuracy of spectral labelling depends considerably upon the degree of unambiguous spectral matching achieved by the spectral similarity metric used. In this work, we propose a new methodology for quantifying spectral similarity for hyperspectral data labelling for surface materials identification. Developed adopting the multiple classifier system architecture, the proposed methodology unifies into a single framework the differential performances of eight different spectral similarity metrics for the quantification of spectral matching for surface materials. The proposed methodology has been implemented on two types of hyperspectral data viz. image (airborne hyperspectral images) and non-image (library spectra) for numerous surface materials identification. Further, the performance of the proposed methodology has been compared with the support vector machines (SVM) approach, and with all the base spectral similarity metrics. The results indicate that, for the hyperspectral images, the performance of the proposed methodology is comparable with that of the SVM. For the library spectra, the proposed methodology shows a consistently higher (increase of about 30% when compared to SVM) classification accuracy. The proposed methodology has the potential to serve as a general library search method for materials identification using hyperspectral data.     

A novel approach for constructing a 3D model based on registering a mono image on a 3D model,applicable in Digital Earth

The effect of Digital Earth on our life is vital. Developing and updating Geospatial data in Digital Earth is also essential. This paper presents the application of a new approach of image registration in Digital Earth. The approach was developed based on registering a mono photograph on a master 3D model. The result is a 3D vector model, which can be broadly applied in visualisation, mapping, geographic information system (GIS), planning, change detection, as well as Digital Earth. The approach does not require parameters of correction for transformation. The accuracy of the output depends on the accuracy of the master data. This approach is very versatile and able to register any image on the digital elevation model, digital surface model and topographic 3D model.     

China's high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites and their mapping applications

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century,several countries have made great efforts to develop space remote sensing for building a high-resolution earth observation system.Under the great attention of the government and the guidance of the major scientific and techno-logical project of the high-resolution earth observation system,China has made continuous breakthroughs and progress in high-resolution remote sensing imaging technology.The development of domestic high-resolution remote sensing satellites shows a vigorous trend,and consequently,a relatively stable and perfect high-resolution earth observation system has been formed.The development of high-resolution remote sensing satellites has greatly pro-moted and enriched modern mapping technologies and methods.In this paper,the develop-ment status,along with mapping modes and applications of China's high-resolution remote sensing satellites are reviewed,and the development trend in high-resolution earth observa-tion system for global and ground control-free mapping is discussed,providing a reference for the subsequent development of high-resolution remote sensing satellites in China.     

Big Earth data: disruptive changes in Earth observation data management and analysis?

ABSTRACT

Turning Earth observation (EO) data consistently and systematically into valuable global information layers is an ongoing challenge for the EO community. Recently, the term ‘big Earth data’ emerged to describe massive EO datasets that confronts analysts and their traditional workflows with a range of challenges. We argue that the altered circumstances must be actively intercepted by an evolution of EO to revolutionise their application in various domains. The disruptive element is that analysts and end-users increasingly rely on Web-based workflows. In this contribution we study selected systems and portals, put them in the context of challenges and opportunities and highlight selected shortcomings and possible future developments that we consider relevant for the imminent uptake of big Earth data.     

Envisat ASAR的区域森林-非森林制图

Envisat卫星ASAR传感器的双极化数据对区域森林监测十分有效。通过分别采用SRTM DEM和Landsat TM图像对地形起伏区域和平坦区域的SAR图像进行地理编码,发展了一种SAR图像自动预处理方法。基于冬季单时相ASAR数据的HH(水平发射,水平接收)、HV(水平发射,垂直接收)极化比值和HV极化图像,提出了一种面向对象的森林-非森林分类方法。将之应用于中国东北森林/非森林制图,分类总体精度、森林用户精度和生产者精度分别为83.7%,85.6%和75.7%。结果表明,本文提出的方法十分适合区域森林-非森林制图的业务化运行。     

Integrating RapidEye and ancillary data to map alpine habitats in South Tyrol,Italy

In this paper, we present a two-stage method for mapping habitats using Earth observation (EO) data in three Alpine sites in South Tyrol, Italy. The first stage of the method was the classification of land cover types using multi-temporal RapidEye images and support vector machines (SVMs). The second stage involved reclassification of the land cover types to habitat types following a rule-based spatial kernel. The highest accuracies in land cover classification were 95.1% overall accuracy, 0.94 kappa coefficient and 4.9% overall disagreement. These accuracies were obtained when the combination of images with topographic parameters and homogeneity texture was used. The habitat classification accuracies were rather moderate due to the broadly defined rules and possible inaccuracies in the reference map. Overall, our proposed methodology could be implemented to map cost-effectively alpine habitats over large areas and could be easily adapted to map other types of habitats.     

Earth observation metadata ontology model for spatiotemporal-spectral semantic-enhanced satellite observation discovery: a case study of soil moisture monitoring

Monitoring soil moisture with satellite sensors is an effective approach for agricultural drought assessment. Currently, large quantities of sensor-derived observation data with different observation metadata models exist, and they require efficient and accurate methods of discovery. In this study, an earth observation (EO) metadata ontology with a spatiotemporal-spectral-enhanced structure is designed to solve this problem. The ontology is based on the proposed EO metadata model, which is composed of nonfunctional and functional sub-modules and supports the Open Geospatial Consortium EO profile of observations and measurements. Using EO metadata ontology, an application for soil moisture monitoring in Hubei Province in China is tested. The results indicate that metadata retrieval with a spatiotemporal-spectral-enhanced method can efficiently achieve fine-grained discovery of qualified EO metadata and obtain soil moisture monitoring information from sensor images. In summary, the spatiotemporal-spectral semantics in the proposed ontology demonstrate the use of EO metadata in the context of a soil moisture monitoring application, improving the efficiency and accuracy of EO metadata discovery.     

Comparison of the Landsat Surface Reflectance Climate Data Record (CDR) and manually atmospherically corrected data in a semi-arid European study area

This study contributes to the quality assessment of atmospherically corrected Landsat surface reflectance data that are routinely generated by the Landsat Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System (LEDAPS). This dataset, named Landsat Surface Reflectance Climate Data Record (Landsat CDR), is available at global scale and offers unprecedented opportunities to land monitoring and management services that require atmospherically corrected Earth observation (EO) data. Our assessment is based on the comparison of the Landsat CDR data against a set of Landsat and DEIMOS-1 images processed to a high degree of accuracy using an industry-standard atmospheric correction algorithm (ATCOR-2). The software package has been used for many years and its correction procedures can be considered consolidated and well-established. The dataset of Landsat and DEIMOS-1 images was acquired over a semi-arid agricultural area located in Lower Austria and was independently corrected by using a manual fine-tuning of ATCOR-2 parameters to reach the highest possible accuracy. Results show a very good correspondence of the surface reflectance in each of the six reflective spectral channels as well as for the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). An additional comparison against a NDVI time series from MODIS revealed also a good correspondence. Coefficients of determination (R²) between the two multi-year and multi-seasonal Landsat/DEIMOS datasets range between 0.91 (blue band) and 0.98 (nIR, SWIR-1 and SWIR-2). The results obtained for our semi-arid test site in Austria confirm previous findings and suggest that automatic atmospheric procedures, such as the one implemented by LEDAPS are accurate enough to be used in land monitoring services that require consistent multi-temporal surface reflectance data.     

Improved topographic mapping through high-resolution SAR interferometry with atmospheric effect removal

The application of SAR interferometry (InSAR) in topographic mapping is usually limited by geometric/temporal decorrelations and atmospheric effect, particularly in repeat-pass mode. In this paper, to improve the accuracy of topographic mapping with high-resolution InSAR, a new approach to estimate and remove atmospheric effect has been developed. Under the assumptions that there was no ground deformation within a short temporal period and insignificant ionosphere interference on high-frequency radar signals, e.g. X-bands, the approach was focused on the removal of two types of atmospheric effects, namely tropospheric stratification and turbulence. Using an available digital elevation model (DEM) of moderate spatial resolution, e.g. Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM, a differential interferogram was firstly produced from the high-resolution InSAR data pair. A linear regression model between phase signal and auxiliary elevation was established to estimate the stratified atmospheric effect from the differential interferogram. Afterwards, a combination of a low-pass and an adaptive filter was employed to separate the turbulent atmospheric effect. After the removal of both types of atmospheric effects in the high-resolution interferogram, the interferometric phase information incorporating local topographic details was obtained and further processed to produce a high-resolution DEM. The feasibility and effectiveness of this approach was validated by an experiment with a tandem-mode X-band COSMO-SkyMed InSAR data pair covering a mountainous area in Northwestern China. By using a standard Chinese national DEM of scale 1:50,000 as the reference, we evaluated the vertical accuracy of InSAR DEM with and without atmospheric effects correction, which shows that after atmospheric signal correction the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) has decreased from 13.6 m to 5.7 m. Overall, from this study a significant improvement to derive topographic maps with high accuracy has been achieved by using the proposed approach.     

Automated lithological mapping by integrating spectral enhancement techniques and machine learning algorithms using AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral data in Gold-bearing granite-greenstone rocks in Hutti,India

In this study, we proposed an automated lithological mapping approach by using spectral enhancement techniques and Machine Learning Algorithms (MLAs) using Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectroradiometer-Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) hyperspectral data in the greenstone belt of the Hutti area, India. We integrated spectral enhancement techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) transformation and different MLAs for an accurate mapping of rock types. A conjugate utilization of conventional geological map and spectral enhancement products derived from ASTER data were used for the preparation of a high-resolution reference lithology map. Feature selection and extraction methods were applied on the AVIRIS-NG data to derive different input dataset such as (a) all spectral bands, (b) shortwave infrared bands, (c) Joint Mutual Information Maximization (JMIM) based optimum bands, and (d) optimum bands using PCA, to choose optimum input dataset for automated lithological mapping. The comparative analysis of different MLAs shows that the Support Vector Machine (SVM) outperforms other Machine Learning (ML) models. The SVM achieved an Overall Accuracy (OA) and Kappa Coefficient (k) of 85.48% and 0.83, respectively, using JMIM based optimum bands. The JMIM based optimum bands were more suitable than other input datasets to classify most of the lithological units (i.e. metabasalt, amphibolite, granite, acidic intrusive and migmatite) within the study area . The sensitivity analysis performed in this study illustrates that the SVM is less sensitive to the number of samples and mislabeling in the model training than other MLAs. The obtained high-resolution classified map with accurate litho-contacts of amphibolite, metabasalt, and granite can be coupled with an alteration map of the area for targeting the potential zone of gold mineralization.     

Rule-based classification of high-resolution imagery over urban areas in New York City

This paper describes the integration of results from different feature extraction algorithms using spectral and spatial attributes to detect specific urban features. Methodology includes segmentation of IKONOS data, computing attributes for creating image objects and classifying the objects with fuzzy logic and rule-based algorithms. Previous research reported low class accuracies for two specific classes – dark and grey roofs. A modified per-field approach was employed to extract urban features. New rule-sets were used on image objects having similar or near-similar spectral and spatial characteristics. Different algorithms using spectral and spatial attributes were developed to extract specific urban features from a time-series of Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) (4 m × 4 m) IKONOS data. The modified approach resulted in a remarkable improvement in the accuracy of classes that registered low spectral seperability and therefore low accuracy. The spectral and spatial based classification model may be useful in mapping heterogeneous and spectrally similar urban features.     

Overview and preliminary idea for building Digital Earth with Grid computing technology

Abstract

Digital Earth is an important field of information technology and a research frontier of geosciences in the 21st century. So far, the Grid computing technique is one of the best solutions for Digital Earth infrastructure. Digital Earth can only be realised through the interaction of people, heterogeneous computing resources, information systems, and instruments, all of which are geographically and organisationally dispersed. Earth observation (EO) includes information acquisition, processing and applications. Information acquisition provides a vast amount of spatial data for building the fabric resource infrastructure. Information processing means that spatial information processing middleware is used with large amounts of secure Grid computing resources for real-time processing of all kinds of spatial data. We are currently working on the development of core-middleware for EO data processing and applications for the Digital Earth Prototype System, which is available in the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications (IRSA), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) The further results will be available soon.     

成象光谱图象光谱吸收鉴别模型与矿物填图研究

本文提出了一种光谱吸收鉴别模型，拟通过矿物光谱吸收特征的鉴别，在成象光谱上实现矿物直接识别与填图。该模型的核心是光谱吸收指数技术（ＳＡＩ）。从理论上探讨了ＳＡＩ的本质，应用Ｈａｐｋｅ光谱模型讨论了ＳＡＩ与光谱吸收系数（ｄ）以及单散射反照率（ｗ）之间的函数关系，并从成象光谱图象辐射信息传递过程分析了图象ＳＡＩ与光谱吸收深度的关系，而光谱吸收深度与岩石矿物成分含量之间具有定量关系，这显示了ＳＡＩ提取矿物定量遥感信息能力。ＳＡＩ已经成功地应用于ＦＩＭＳ、ＭＡＩＳ和ＧＥＲＩＳ图象处理与矿物填图，本文通过哈图、塔里木、以及澳大利亚松谷的实例研究，表明ＳＡＩ是一种有效的提取矿物类型与丰度信息的方法。     

Synergy of airborne LiDAR and Worldview-2 satellite imagery for land cover and habitat mapping: A BIO_SOS-EODHaM case study for the Netherlands

A major challenge is to develop a biodiversity observation system that is cost effective and applicable in any geographic region. Measuring and reliable reporting of trends and changes in biodiversity requires amongst others detailed and accurate land cover and habitat maps in a standard and comparable way. The objective of this paper is to assess the EODHaM (EO Data for Habitat Mapping) classification results for a Dutch case study. The EODHaM system was developed within the BIO_SOS (The BIOdiversity multi-SOurce monitoring System: from Space TO Species) project and contains the decision rules for each land cover and habitat class based on spectral and height information. One of the main findings is that canopy height models, as derived from LiDAR, in combination with very high resolution satellite imagery provides a powerful input for the EODHaM system for the purpose of generic land cover and habitat mapping for any location across the globe. The assessment of the EODHaM classification results based on field data showed an overall accuracy of 74% for the land cover classes as described according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) taxonomy at level 3, while the overall accuracy was lower (69.0%) for the habitat map based on the General Habitat Category (GHC) system for habitat surveillance and monitoring. A GHC habitat class is determined for each mapping unit on the basis of the composition of the individual life forms and height measurements. The classification showed very good results for forest phanerophytes (FPH) when individual life forms were analyzed in terms of their percentage coverage estimates per mapping unit from the LCCS classification and validated with field surveys. Analysis for shrubby chamaephytes (SCH) showed less accurate results, but might also be due to less accurate field estimates of percentage coverage. Overall, the EODHaM classification results encouraged us to derive the heights of all vegetated objects in the Netherlands from LiDAR data, in preparation for new habitat classifications.     

Improved k-means and spectral matching for hyperspectral mineral mapping

Mineral mapping is an important step for the development and utilization of mineral resources. The emergence of remote sensing technology, especially hyperspectral imagery, has paved a new approach to geological mapping. The k-means clustering algorithm is a classical approach to classifying hyperspectral imagery, but the influence of mixed pixels and noise mean that it usually has poor mineral mapping accuracy. In this study, the mapping accuracy of the k-means algorithm was improved in three ways: similarity measurement methods that are insensitive to dimensions are used instead of the Euclidean distance for clustering; the spectral absorption features of minerals are enhanced; and the mineral mapping results are combined as the number of cluster centers (K) is incremented from 1. The improved algorithm is used with combined spectral matching to match the clustering results with a spectral library. A case study on Cuprite, Nevada, demonstrated that the improved k-means algorithm can identify most minerals with the kappa value of over 0.8, which is 46% and 15% higher than the traditional k-means and spectral matching technology. New mineral types are more likely to be found with increasing K. When K is much greater than the number of mineral types, the accuracy is improved, and the mineral mapping results are independent of the similarity measurement method. The improved k-means algorithm can also effectively remove speckle noise from the mineral mapping results and be used to identify other objects.     

基于HIS和小波变换的IKONOS影像融合

许多对地观测卫星能提供高分辨率的全色波段影像和低分辨率的多光谱影像,因而影像融合已成为遥感图像空间分辨率提高的一个重要工具.目前多种影像融合技术已发展起来,然而对于高分辨率的IKONOS影像,现有的算法很难产生满意的融合效果.本文提出了一种新的融合方法,结合了HIS变换和小波变换的优势来减弱IKONOS融合中的光谱扭曲.定量评价证明HIS和小波相结合的融合方法相比常规的HIS变换和小波变换在提高融合质量上有着重要意义.