Evaluation of Goddard’s LiDAR,hyperspectral, and thermal data products for mapping urban land-cover types

Goddard’s LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), hyperspectral and thermal (G-LiHT) airborne imager is a new system to advance concepts of data fusion for worldwide applications. A recent G-LiHT mission conducted in June 2016 over an urban area opens a new opportunity to assess the G-LiHT products for urban land-cover mapping. In this study, the G-LiHT hyperspectral and LiDAR-canopy height model (LiDAR-CHM) products were evaluated to map five broad land-cover types. A feature/decision-level fusion strategy was developed to integrate two products. Contemporary data processing techniques were applied, including object-based image analysis, machine-learning algorithms, and ensemble analysis. Evaluation focused on the capability of G-LiHT hyperspectral products compared with multispectral data with similar spatial resolution, the contribution of LiDAR-CHM, and the potential of ensemble analysis in land-cover mapping. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the application of the G-LiHT hyperspectral product and simulated Quickbird data in the classification. A synthesis of G-LiHT hyperspectral and LiDAR-CHM products achieved the best result with an overall accuracy of 96.3% and a Kappa value of 0.95 when ensemble analysis was applied. Ensemble analysis of the three classifiers not only increased the classification accuracy but also generated an uncertainty map to show regions with a robust classification as well as areas where classification errors were most likely to occur. Ensemble analysis is a promising tool for land-cover classification.     

机载多光谱LiDAR数据的地物分类方法

机载多光谱LiDAR系统能够快速地获取大范围地表面上地物光谱和几何数据,并能够保证所获取的光谱与空间几何数据在空间和时间上相对完整和一致性。支持向量机（SVM）是一种基于小样本的学习方法,它避开了从归纳到演绎的传统分类过程。因此,本文提出了基于SVM多光谱LiDAR数据的地物目标分类方法。该方法首先将多个独立波段的LiDAR数据融合为单一的、包含多个波段信息的点云数据,然后将融合后的点云内插为距离影像和多光谱影像,最后利用SVM进行多光谱LiDAR数据的地物覆盖分类。通过对加拿大Optech公司的Titan机载多光谱LiDAR数据的试验证明：相对于传统的单波段LiDAR数据,多光谱LiDAR数据可以获得较好的地物分类精度;比较试验发现SVM分类方法适用于多光谱LiDAR数据的地物分类。     

A Hybrid CNN + Random Forest Approach to Delineate Debris Covered Glaciers Using Deep Features

The main aim of this study is to propose a novel hybrid deep learning framework approach for accurate mapping of debris covered glaciers. The framework comprises of integration of several CNNs architecture, in which different combinations of Landsat 8 multispectral bands (including thermal band), topographic and texture parameters are passed as input for feature extraction. The output of an ensemble of these CNNs is hybrid with random forest model for classification. The major pillars of the framework include: (1) technique for implementing topographic and atmospheric corrections (preprocessing), (2) the proposed hybrid of ensemble of CNNs and random forest classifier, and (3) procedures to determine whether a pixel predicted as snow is a cloud edge/shadow (post-processing). The proposed approach was implemented on the multispectral Landsat 8 OLI (operational land imager)/TIRS (thermal infrared sensor) data and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model for the part of the region situated in Alaknanda basin, Uttarakhand, Himalaya. The proposed framework was observed to outperform (accuracy 96.79%) the current state-of-art machine learning algorithms such as artificial neural network, support vector machine, and random forest. Accuracy assessment was performed by means of several statistics measures (precision, accuracy, recall, and specificity).     

Assessing the performance of two unsupervised dimensionality reduction techniques on hyperspectral APEX data for high resolution urban land-cover mapping

Despite the high richness of information content provided by airborne hyperspectral data, detailed urban land-cover mapping is still a challenging task. An important topic in hyperspectral remote sensing is the issue of high dimensionality, which is commonly addressed by dimensionality reduction techniques. While many studies focus on methodological developments in data reduction, less attention is paid to the assessment of the proposed methods in detailed urban hyperspectral land-cover mapping, using state-of-the-art image classification approaches. In this study we evaluate the potential of two unsupervised data reduction techniques, the Autoassociative Neural Network (AANN) and the BandClust method – the first a transformation based approach, the second a feature-selection based approach – for mapping of urban land cover at a high level of thematic detail, using an APEX 288-band hyperspectral dataset. Both methods were tested in combination with four state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers: Random Forest (RF), AdaBoost (ADB), the multiple layer perceptron (MLP), and support vector machines (SVM). When used in combination with a strong learner (MLP, SVM) BandClust produces classification accuracies similar to or higher than obtained with the full dataset, demonstrating the method’s capability of preserving critical spectral information, required for the classifier to successfully distinguish between the 22 urban land-cover classes defined in this study. In the AANN data reduction process, on the other hand, important spectral information seems to be compromised or lost, resulting in lower accuracies for three of the four classifiers tested. Detailed analysis of accuracies at class level confirms the superiority of the SVM/Bandclust combination for accurate urban land-cover mapping using a reduced hyperspectral dataset. This study also demonstrates the potential of the new APEX sensor data for detailed mapping of land cover in spatially and spectrally complex urban areas.     

Detecting understory plant invasion in urban forests using LiDAR

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data are increasingly used to measure structural characteristics of urban forests but are rarely used to detect the growing problem of exotic understory plant invaders. We explored the merits of using LiDAR-derived metrics alone and through integration with spectral data to detect the spatial distribution of the exotic understory plant Ligustrum sinense, a rapidly spreading invader in the urbanizing region of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. We analyzed regional-scale L. sinense occurrence data collected over the course of three years with LiDAR-derived metrics of forest structure that were categorized into the following groups: overstory, understory, topography, and overall vegetation characteristics, and IKONOS spectral features – optical. Using random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR) classifiers, we assessed the relative contributions of LiDAR and IKONOS derived variables to the detection of L. sinense. We compared the top performing models developed for a smaller, nested experimental extent using RF and LR classifiers, and used the best overall model to produce a predictive map of the spatial distribution of L. sinense across our country-wide study extent. RF classification of LiDAR-derived topography metrics produced the highest mapping accuracy estimates, outperforming IKONOS data by 17.5% and the integration of LiDAR and IKONOS data by 5.3%. The top performing model from the RF classifier produced the highest kappa of 64.8%, improving on the parsimonious LR model kappa by 31.1% with a moderate gain of 6.2% over the county extent model. Our results demonstrate the superiority of LiDAR-derived metrics over spectral data and fusion of LiDAR and spectral data for accurately mapping the spatial distribution of the forest understory invader L. sinense.     

Combining QuickBird,LiDAR, and GIS topography indices to identify a single native tree species in a complex landscape using an object-based classification approach

There are now a wide range of techniques that can be combined for image analysis. These include the use of object-based classifications rather than pixel-based classifiers, the use of LiDAR to determine vegetation height and vertical structure, as well terrain variables such as topographic wetness index and slope that can be calculated using GIS. This research investigates the benefits of combining these techniques to identify individual tree species. A QuickBird image and low point density LiDAR data for a coastal region in New Zealand was used to examine the possibility of mapping Pohutukawa trees which are regarded as an iconic tree in New Zealand. The study area included a mix of buildings and vegetation types. After image and LiDAR preparation, single tree objects were identified using a range of techniques including: a threshold of above ground height to eliminate ground based objects; Normalised Difference Vegetation Index and elevation difference between the first and last return of LiDAR data to distinguish vegetation from buildings; geometric information to separate clusters of trees from single trees, and treetop identification and region growing techniques to separate tree clusters into single tree crowns. Important feature variables were identified using Random Forest, and the Support Vector Machine provided the classification. The combined techniques using LiDAR and spectral data produced an overall accuracy of 85.4% (Kappa 80.6%). Classification using just the spectral data produced an overall accuracy of 75.8% (Kappa 67.8%). The research findings demonstrate how the combining of LiDAR and spectral data improves classification for Pohutukawa trees.     

Data fusion and classifier ensemble techniques for vegetation mapping in the coastal Everglades

This study examined the applicability of data fusion and classifier ensemble techniques for vegetation mapping in the coastal Everglades. A framework was designed to combine these two techniques. In the framework, 20-m hyperspectral imagery collected from Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer was first merged with 1-m Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads using a proposed pixel/feature-level fusion strategy. The fused data set was then classified with an ensemble approach based on two contemporary machine learning algorithms: Random Forest and Support Vector Machine. The framework was applied to classify nine vegetation types in a portion of the coastal Everglades. An object-based vegetation map was produced with an overall accuracy of 90% and Kappa value of 0.86. Per-class classification accuracy varied from 61% for identifying buttonwood forest to 100% for identifying red mangrove scrub. The result shows that the framework is promising for automated vegetation mapping in the Everglades.     

融合形状和光谱的高空间分辨率遥感影像分类

提出了一种像元形状指数及基于形状和光谱特征融合的高（空间）分辨率遥感影像分类方法。形状和光谱是遥感影像纹理的具体表现形式,尤其在高分辨率影像中地物细节得到充分表达,相邻像元的关系及其共同表征的形状特性成为分类的重要因素。本文用像元及其邻域的关系来描述其空间结构,同时为了更全面地利用影像特征,提出了基于支持向量机的形状和光谱融合分类方法。实验证明,该方法计算简便且能有效表达高分辨率影像的地物特征,提高分类精度。     

Integration of full-waveform LiDAR and hyperspectral data to enhance tea and areca classification

Hyperspectral image and full-waveform light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data provide useful spectral and geometric information for classifying land cover. Hyperspectral images contain a large number of bands, thus providing land-cover discrimination. Waveform LiDAR systems record the entire time-varying intensity of a return signal and supply detailed information on geometric distribution of land cover. This study developed an efficient multi-sensor data fusion approach that integrates hyperspectral data and full-waveform LiDAR information on the basis of minimum noise fraction and principal component analysis. Then, support vector machine was used to classify land cover in mountainous areas. Results showed that using multi-sensor fused data achieved better accuracy than using a hyperspectral image alone, with overall accuracy increasing from 83% to 91% using population error matrices, for the test site. The classification accuracies of forest and tea farms exhibited significant improvement when fused data were used. For example, classification results were more complete and compact in tea farms based on fused data. Fused data considered spectral and geometric land-cover information, and increased the discriminability of vegetation classes that provided similar spectral signatures.     

Crop type mapping using LiDAR,Sentinel-2 and aerial imagery with machine learning algorithms

LiDAR data are becoming increasingly available, which has opened up many new applications. One such application is crop type mapping. Accurate crop type maps are critical for monitoring water use, estimating harvests and in precision agriculture. The traditional approach to obtaining maps of cultivated fields is by manually digitizing the fields from satellite or aerial imagery and then assigning crop type labels to each field - often informed by data collected during ground and aerial surveys. However, manual digitizing and labeling is time-consuming, expensive and subject to human error. Automated remote sensing methods is a cost-effective alternative, with machine learning gaining popularity for classifying crop types. This study evaluated the use of LiDAR data, Sentinel-2 imagery, aerial imagery and machine learning for differentiating five crop types in an intensively cultivated area. Different combinations of the three datasets were evaluated along with ten machine learning. The classification results were interpreted by comparing overall accuracies, kappa, standard deviation and f-score. It was found that LiDAR data successfully differentiated between different crop types, with XGBoost providing the highest overall accuracy of 87.8％. Furthermore, the crop type maps produced using the LiDAR data were in general agreement with those obtained by using Sentinel-2 data, with LiDAR obtaining a mean overall accuracy of 84.3％ and Sentinel-2 a mean overall accuracy of 83.6％. However, the combination of all three datasets proved to be the most effective at differentiating between the crop types, with RF providing the highest overall accuracy of 94.4％. These findings provide a foundation for selecting the appropriate combination of remotely sensed data sources and machine learning algorithms for operational crop type mapping.     

Combined use of LiDAR data and multispectral earth observation imagery for wetland habitat mapping

Although wetlands play a key role in controlling flooding and nonpoint source pollution, sequestering carbon and providing an abundance of ecological services, the inventory and characterization of wetland habitats are most often limited to small areas. This explains why the understanding of their ecological functioning is still insufficient for a reliable functional assessment on areas larger than a few hectares. While LiDAR data and multispectral Earth Observation (EO) images are often used separately to map wetland habitats, their combined use is currently being assessed for different habitat types. The aim of this study is to evaluate the combination of multispectral and multiseasonal imagery and LiDAR data to precisely map the distribution of wetland habitats. The image classification was performed combining an object-based approach and decision-tree modeling. Four multispectral images with high (SPOT-5) and very high spatial resolution (Quickbird, KOMPSAT-2, aerial photographs) were classified separately. Another classification was then applied integrating summer and winter multispectral image data and three layers derived from LiDAR data: vegetation height, microtopography and intensity return. The comparison of classification results shows that some habitats are better identified on the winter image and others on the summer image (overall accuracies = 58.5 and 57.6%). They also point out that classification accuracy is highly improved (overall accuracy = 86.5%) when combining LiDAR data and multispectral images. Moreover, this study highlights the advantage of integrating vegetation height, microtopography and intensity parameters in the classification process. This article demonstrates that information provided by the synergetic use of multispectral images and LiDAR data can help in wetland functional assessment     

利用样本生成方法进行机载多光谱LiDAR数据深度学习分类

机载多光谱LiDAR系统能够快速、准确地获取地物的空间几何和光谱信息,为地物覆盖分类和目标识别提供新的数据源。近年来,基于三维点云的深度学习算法取得了一系列突破性进展,然而直接将不规则的原始点云数据输入深度学习模型进行基于点的分类存在一定的困难。本文提出了一种基于FPS-KNN的样本生成方法,用于基于深度学习的机载多光谱LiDAR数据分类。该方法首先对输入数据进行归一化处理;然后利用最远点采样方法(FPS)和K近邻法(KNN)在输入数据中生成一系列规则大小的训练样本数据集。通过机载多光谱LiDAR数据的试验表明,该方法所生成的样本不仅符合卷积神经网络所要求的输入数据形式,而且能够确保对输入场景的完整覆盖。     

Spectral angle mapper and object-based classification combined with hyperspectral remote sensing imagery for obtaining land use/cover mapping in a Mediterranean region

In this study, we test the potential of two different classification algorithms, namely the spectral angle mapper (SAM) and object-based classifier for mapping the land use/cover characteristics using a Hyperion imagery. We chose a study region that represents a typical Mediterranean setting in terms of landscape structure, composition and heterogeneous land cover classes. Accuracy assessment of the land cover classes was performed based on the error matrix statistics. Validation points were derived from visual interpretation of multispectral high resolution QuickBird-2 satellite imagery. Results from both the classifiers yielded more than 70% classification accuracy. However, the object-based classification clearly outperformed the SAM by 7.91% overall accuracy (OA) and a relatively high kappa coefficient. Similar results were observed in the classification of the individual classes. Our results highlight the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing data as well as object-based classification approach for mapping heterogeneous land use/cover in a typical Mediterranean setting.     

融合空谱特征和集成超限学习机的高光谱图像分类

为提高高光谱图像的分类精度,提出了一种融合空谱特征和集成超限学习机的高光谱图像分类方法。首先结合每个像素邻域的光谱信息提取空谱特征向量;考虑到高光谱相邻波段信息具有一定的相关性,先对提取的特征向量进行平均分组,然后从每个区间随机选择若干个波段进行组合,采用具有快速学习能力的超限学习机训练分类器。为提高分类模型的泛化能力,基于集成学习思想,对提取的空谱特征进行多次抽样,训练得到多个弱分类器,最后采用投票表决法得到用于高光谱图像分类的强分类器。采用3个典型高光谱数据进行了分类试验,试验结果表明,提出的算法总体分类精度较优,尤其当训练样本数较少时能取得较高的分类精度。提出的算法具有可调参数少、训练速度快、分类精度高等优点,具有广阔的应用前景。     

高光谱-LiDAR多级融合城区地表覆盖分类

城市地区地表覆盖分类在城市研究中是一个十分重要的方向。遥感作为获取地物物理属性的一种重要技术手段,已初步应用于分类研究中。然而,随着城镇化的不断推进,城市内部地物类型越来越复杂,单一的遥感影像已无法满足城区地表覆盖分类中高精度的要求。高光谱影像和LiDAR数据能够分别表征地物的光谱信息及高程而被广泛应用。因此,根据两者之间互补的优势,本文提出了基于高光谱影像和LiDAR数据多级融合的城区地表覆盖分类方法。首先对两幅影像分别进行特征提取,将提取到的光谱、空间及高程信息进行层叠实现特征级融合。对得到的特征影像的所有像素点进行分类,然后利用LiDAR点云数据提取的建筑物掩膜,对非建筑物部分进行分类,再次实现特征级融合,以此改善建筑物区域与非建筑物区域的混淆。然后将未使用掩膜得到的分类结果与利用掩膜得到的分类结果进行投票实现决策级融合。最后利用条件随机场模型对分类结果进行后处理操作,达到平滑图像去除噪声点的目的。     

基于光谱相似性的多光谱数据纹理编码算法研究

基于多光谱纹理“映射模式”概念，提出了基于光谱数据相似性的多光谱、高光谱数据的编码方法。利用光谱相似测度对不同类型的纹理进行编码，表征地物的全局纹理特征，将纹理提取的算法扩展到多维光谱图像分析中，提出了多尺度纹理组合算法。试验证明，该方法合理有效，可大大提高分类的准确性和精度。     

机载三维成像仪的定位原理与误差分析

本文论述了“机载三维成像仪”的定位原理,并在系统定位原理的基础上,详细讨论了与“机载三维成像仪”的对地定位精度有关的传感器的误差对系统定位精度的影响,这一问题的研究不仅对研制针对不同目的的激光地形制图系统的设计具有指导意义,而且对激光扫描制图系统的数据平差具有重要意义。     

Exploring image fusion of ALOS/PALSAR data and LANDSAT data to differentiate forest area

Remote sensing data utilize valuable information via various satellite sensors that have different specifications. Image fusion allows the user to combine different spatial and spectral resolutions to improve the information for purposes such as forest monitoring and land cover mapping. In this study, I assessed the contribution of dual-polarized Advanced Land Observing Satellite/Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data to multispectral Landsat imagery. The research investigated the separability of forested areas using different image fusion techniques. Quality analysis of the fused images was conducted using qualitative and quantitative analyses. I applied the support vector machine image classification method for land cover mapping. Among all methods examined, the à trous wavelet transform method best differentiated the forested area with an overall accuracy (OA) of 94.316%, while Landsat had an OA of 92.626%. The findings of this study indicated that optical-SAR-fused images improve land cover classification, which results in higher quality forest inventory data and mapping.     

Evaluating the impact of red-edge band from Rapideye image for classifying insect defoliation levels

The prospect of regular assessments of insect defoliation using remote sensing technologies has increased in recent years through advances in the understanding of the spectral reflectance properties of vegetation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of the red edge channel of Rapideye imagery to discriminate different levels of insect defoliation in an African savanna by comparing the results of obtained from two classifiers. Random Forest and Support vector machine classification algorithms were applied using different sets of spectral analysis involving the red edge band. Results show that the integration of information from red edge increases classification accuracy of insect defoliation levels in all analysis performed in the study. For instance, when all the 5 bands of Rapideye imagery were used for classification, the overall accuracies increases about 19% and 21% for SVM and RF, respectively, as opposed to when the red edge channel was excluded. We also found out that the normalized difference red-edge index yielded a better accuracy result than normalized difference vegetation index. We conclude that the red-edge channel of relatively affordable and readily available high-resolution multispectral satellite data such as Rapideye has the potential to considerably improve insect defoliation classification especially in sub-Saharan Africa where data availability is limited.     

Improving Spectral–spatial Classification of Hyperspectral Imagery Using Spectral Dimensionality Reduction Based on Weighted Genetic Algorithm

This paper aims to improve the accuracy and the efficiency of high resolution land cover mapping in urban area. To this end, an improved approach for classification of hyperspectral imagery is proposed and evaluated. This approach benefits from both inherent spectral and spatial information of an image. The weighted genetic (WG) algorithm is first used to obtain the subspace of hyperspectral data. The obtained features are then fed into the enhanced marker-based minimum spanning forest (EMSF) classification algorithm. In this algorithm, the markers are extracted from the classification maps obtained by both support vector machine and watershed segmentation algorithm classifiers. For this purpose, the class’s pixels with the largest population in the classification map are kept for each region of the segmentation map. Then, the most reliable classified pixels are chosen from among the exiting pixels as markers. To evaluate the efficiency of the proposed approach, three hyperspectral data sets acquired by ROSIS-03, Hymap and Hyper-Cam LWIR are used. Experimental results showed that the proposed WG–EMSF approach achieves approximately 9, 8 and 6% better overall accuracy than the original MSF-based algorithm for these data sets respectively.