Satellite Data Classification Using Open Source Support

In this study we explored the potential of open source data mining software support to classify freely available Landsat image. The study identified several major classes that can be distinguished using Landsat data of 30 m spatial resolution. Decision tree classification (DTC) using Waikato environment for knowledge analysis (WEKA), open source software is used to prepare land use land cover (LULC) map and the result is compared with supervised (maximum likelihood classifier – MLC) and unsupervised (Iterative self-organizing data analysis technique - ISODATA clustering) classification techniques. The accuracy assessment indicates highest accuracy of the map prepared using DTC with overall accuracy (OA) 92 % (kappa = 0.90) followed by MLC with OA 88 % (kappa = 0.84) and ISODATA OA 76 % (kappa = 0.69). Results indicate that data set with a good definition of training sites can produce LULC map having good overall accuracy using decision tree. The paper demonstrates utility of open source system for information extraction and importance of DTC algorithm.     

Soft classification for sub-pixel land cover extraction

With increasing resolution of the remotely sensed data the problems of images contaminated by mixed pixels arc frequent. Conventional classification techniques often produce erroneous results when applied to images dominated by mixed pixels. This may load to unrealistic representation of land cover, thereby, affecting efficient planning, management and monitoring of natural resources. Consequently, soft classification techniques providing sub-pixel land cover information may have to be utilised. From a range of soft classification techniques, the present study focuses on the utility of conventional maximum likelihood classifier and linear mixture modelling for sub-pixel. land cover classifications. The accuracy of the soft classifications has been assessed using distance measures and correlation co-efficient. The results show that linear mixture modelling has produced accuracies comparable to maximum likelihood classifier. Besides this the correlations between actual land cover proportions and proportions from linear mixture modelling, though not strong, arc statistically significant at 95% level of confidence. It has also been observed that the normalised likelihoods of maximum likelihood classifier also show strong correlations with the actual land cover proportions on ground and therefore has the potential to be used as a soft classification technique.     

Crop classification accuracy as influenced by training strategy,data transformation and spatial resolution of data

The possibility of improving classification accuracies using different training strategies and data transformations within the framework of a supervised maximum likelihood classification scheme was explored in this study. The effect of spatial resolution of data on the accuracy of classification was also studied Single-pixel training strategy resulted in improved classification accuracy over the block-training method. Data transformations gave no significant improvements in accuracy over untransformed data. There was a reduction in classification accuracy as resolution of data improved from 72 m (LISS I) to 36 m (LISS II) while other sensor characteristics remained same.     

Spatial and Quantitative Comparison of Topographically Derived Different Classification Algorithms Using AWiFS Data over Himalayas,India

In recent years, the significant increase in research on spatial information is observed. Classification or clustering is one of the well-known methods in spatial data analysis. Traditionally, classifiers are generally based on per-pixel approaches and are not utilizing the spatial information within pixel, called mixels which is an important source of information to image classification. There are two foremost reasons behind the existence of mixels: (a) coarse or low spatial resolution of sensor and (b) topographic effects that recorded on optical satellite imagery due to differential terrain illuminations over rugged areas such as Himalayas. In the present study, different classification algorithms have been implemented to drive the impact of topography on them. Among various available, three algorithms for the mapping of snow cover region over north Indian Himalayas (India) are compared: (a) maximum likelihood classification (MLC) as supervised classifier; (b) k-mean clustering as unsupervised classifier; and (c) linear spectral mixing model (LSMM) as soft classifier. These algorithms have been implemented on AWiFS multispectral data, and analysis was carried out. The classification accuracy is estimated by the error matrices, and LSMM achieved higher accuracy (84.5–88.5%) as compared to MLC (81–84%) and k-mean (74–81%). The results highlight that topographically derived classifiers achieved better accuracy in mapping as compared to simple classifiers. The study has many applications in snow hydrology, glaciology and climatology of mountain topography.     

Object- and pixel-based classifications of macroalgae farming area with high spatial resolution imagery

Macroalgae plays an important role in coastal ecosystems. The accurate delineation of macroalgae areas is important for environmental management. This study compared the pixel- and object-based methods using Gaofen satellite no. 2 image to explore an efficient classification approach. Expert system rules and nearest neighbour classifier were adopted for object-based classification, whereas maximum likelihood classifier was implemented in the pixel-based approach. Normalized difference vegetation index, normalized difference water index, mean value of the blue band and geometric characteristics were selected as features to distinguish macroalgae farms by considering the spectral and spatial characteristics. Results show that the object-based method achieved a higher overall accuracy and kappa coefficient than the pixel-based method. Moreover, the object-based approach displayed superiority in identifying Porphyra class. These findings suggest that the object-based method can delineate macroalgae farming areas efficiently and be applied in the future to monitor the macroalgae farms with high spatial resolution imagery.     

Some issues related with sub-pixel classification using HYSI data from IMS-1 satellite

The mixed pixels are treated as noise or uncertainty in class allocation of a pixel and conventional hard classification algorithms may thus produce inaccurate classification outputs. Thus application of sub-pixel or soft classification methods have been adopted for classification of images acquired in complex and uncertain environment. The main objective of this research work has been to study the effect of feature dimensionality using statistical learning classifier — support vector machine (SVM with sigmoid kernel) while using different single and composite operators in fuzzy-based error matrixes generation. In this work mixed pixels have been used at allocation and testing stages and sub-pixel classification outputs have been evaluated using fuzzy-based error matrixes applying single and composite operators for generating matrix. As subpixel accuracy assessment were not available in commercial software, so in-house SMIC (Sub-pixel Multispectral Image Classifier) package has been used. Data used for this research work was from HySI sensor at 506 m spatial resolution from Indian Mini Satellite-1 (IMS-1) satellite launched on April 28, 2008 by Indian Space Research Organisation using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C9, acquired on 18^th May 2008 for classification output and IRS-P6, AWIFS data for testing at sub-pixel reference data. The finding of this research illustrate that the uncertainty estimation at accuracy assessment stage can be carried while using single and composite operators and overall maximum accuracy was achieved while using 40 (13 to 52 bands) band data of HySI (IMS-1).     

山区植被类型信息提取方法研究

根据遥感图像的光谱信息和空间信息特征及不同植被的分布规律,研究利用计算机处理技术提取山区植被类型的方法。分类过程采用四个步骤完成：①均一目标的象限四分树提取分类；②多光谱数据的最小距离分类；③综合利用波谱曲线的形态和地形数据进行分类；④高程数据修正分类。在分类处理过程中,分别利用了图像的空间信息、光谱信息以及地形数据。利用该分类方法在实验小区内进行植被类型提取试验,其精度为90%.与最大似然分类方法所得结果相比较,其分类精度提高了10%.     

Using high resolution QuickBird imagery for crop identification and area estimation

Imagery from recently launched high spatial resolution satellite sensors offers new opportunities for crop assessment and monitoring. A 2.8-m multispectral QuickBird image covering an intensively cropped area in south Texas was evaluated for crop identification and area estimation. Three reduced-resolution images with pixel sizes of 11.2 m, 19.6 m, and 30.8 m were also generated from the original image to simulate coarser resolution imagery from other satellite systems. Supervised classification techniques were used to classify the original image and the three aggregated images into five crop classes (grain sorghum, cotton, citrus, sugarcane, and melons) and five non-crop cover types (mixed herbaceous species, mixed brush, water bodies, wet areas, and dry soil/roads). The five non-crop classes in the 10-category classification maps were then merged as one class. The classification maps were filtered to remove the small inclusions of other classes within the dominant class. For accuracy assessment of the classification maps, crop fields were ground verified and field boundaries were digitized from the original image to determine reference field areas for the five crops. Overall accuracy for the unfiltered 2.8-m, 11.2-m, 19.6-m, and 30.8-m classification maps were 71.4, 76.9, 77.1, and 78.0%, respectively, while overall accuracy for the respective filtered classification maps were 83.6, 82.3, 79.8, and 78.5%. Although increase in pixel size improved overall accuracy for the unfiltered classification maps, the filtered 2.8-m classification map provided the best overall accuracy. Percentage area estimates based on the filtered 2.8-m classification map (34.3, 16.4, 2.3, 2.2, 8.0, and 36.8% for grain sorghum, cotton, citrus, sugarcane, melons, and non-crop, respectively) agreed well with estimates from the digitized polygon map (35.0, 17.9, 2.4, 2.1, 8.0, and 34.6% for the respective categories). These results indicate that QuickBird imagery can be a useful data source for identifying crop types and estimating crop areas.     

基于SVM的资源三号测绘卫星影像分类

以江苏省宜兴市为研究区,利用支持向量机(SVM)方法对资源三号测绘卫星影像进行了分类,其总分类精度为97.76%,Kappa精度为0.968 7。为了评价算法的适用性,同时应用最大似然法与最小距离法对同一影像进行分类测试,支持向量机分类法精度高于其他2种方法,可以满足土地覆盖分类调查需求。     

基于最小距离法的面向对象遥感影像分类

主要介绍了集成基于对象的影像分析与最小距离分类方法的原理,采用中卫市World ViewⅡ影像进行土地覆盖分类研究,并将分类结果与传统的基于像元的最小距离分类结果进行对比。目视解译与定量评价均表明:基于对象方法的各项指标更优越,总体精度由0.85提高到0.87,Kappa系数由0.81提高到0.84。因此,对于高分辨率遥感影像,集成最小距离分类器,基于对象的信息提取方法要优于基于像元方法,分类结果精度更高。     

Analysis of temporal sar and optical data for rice mapping

This study investigates the potential of multi-temporal signature analysis of satellite imagery to map rice area in South 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal. Two optical data (IRS ID LISS III) and three RADARSAT SAR data of different dates were acquired during 2001. Multi-temporal SAR backscatter signatures of different landcovers were incorporated into knowledge based decision rules and kharif landcover map was generated. Based on the spectral variation in signature, the optical data acquired during rabi (January) and summer (March) season were classified using supervised maximum likelihood classifier. A co-incidence matrix was generated using logical approach for a combined “rabi-summer” and “kharif-rabi-summer” landcover mapping. The major landcovers obtained in South 24 Paraganas using remote sensing data are rice, water, aquaculture ponds, homestead, mangrove, and urban area. The classification accuracy of rice area was 98.2% using SAR data. However, while generating combined “kharif-rabi-summer” landcovers, the classification accuracy of rice area was improved from 81.6% (optical data) to 96.6% (combined SAR-Optical). The primary aim of the study is to achieve better accuracy in classifying rice area using the synergy between the two kinds of remotely sensed data.     

Comparing object-based and pixel-based classifications for mapping savannas

The development of robust object-based classification methods suitable for medium to high resolution satellite imagery provides a valid alternative to ‘traditional’ pixel-based methods. This paper compares the results of an object-based classification to a supervised per-pixel classification for mapping land cover in the tropical north of the Northern Territory of Australia. The object-based approach involved segmentation of image data into objects at multiple scale levels. Objects were assigned classes using training objects and the Nearest Neighbour supervised and fuzzy classification algorithm. The supervised pixel-based classification involved the selection of training areas and a classification using the maximum likelihood classifier algorithm. Site-specific accuracy assessment using confusion matrices of both classifications were undertaken based on 256 reference sites. A comparison of the results shows a statistically significant higher overall accuracy of the object-based classification over the pixel-based classification. The incorporation of a digital elevation model (DEM) layer and associated class rules into the object-based classification produced slightly higher accuracies overall and for certain classes; however this was not statistically significant over the object-based using spectral information solely. The results indicate object-based analysis has good potential for extracting land cover information from satellite imagery captured over spatially heterogeneous land covers of tropical Australia.     

Mapping Plant Functional Types at Multiple Spatial Resolutions Using Imaging Spectrometer Data

Imaging spectrometer data have been used to map plant functional types (PFTs—plant species grouped by similarities in their resource use, ecosystem function, and responses to environmental conditions) at spatial resolutions of 30 m and finer, but not at coarser spatial resolutions that may be necessary for global PFT mapping. This study uses spatially resampled Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data acquired over the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, USA to examine changes in PFT classification accuracy as spatial resolution is degraded from 20 to 60 m. Accuracy was dependent on the spatial resolution of the classified data and the spatial resolution of endmembers used in the multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis classifier.     

A comparative evaluation of IRS-1A LISS-II and landsat MSS images using computer-aided lineament data analysis

Lineament patterns detected from remotely sensed data provide useful information to geoscientists, specially in the study of basement tectonics, groundwater targetting and mineral exploration. Improvements in the spatial resolution of satellite images have resulted in the detection of short and faint lineaments which have hitherto gone unnoticed The IRS-1A LISS-II data offers a significant improvement in spatial resolution as compared to the Landsat MSS. A set of computer programmes developed for analysis of lineaments were used to study the parameters such as lineament frequency, length and density in order to quantify the added information derived using IRS-1A LISS-II images. The incremental contribution of LISS-II images are of the order of 100 per cent for lineament frequency and about 60 per cent for total line kilometers of lineaments detected.     

Estimation of Water-Spread Area of Singoor Reservoir,Southern India by Super Resolution Mapping of Multispectral Satellite Images

Estimation of reservoir water-spread area is often carried out by field surveys which are cumbersome, time consuming, expensive and involves more man power. Hence, such surveys cannot be carried out periodically. To overcome this issue, satellite images are used, wherein the reservoir water-spread is estimated by conventional per-pixel classification such as the maximum likelihood and minimum distance to mean approaches that often results in inaccurate estimate of water-spread area due to the presence of mixed pixels. High cost and non-availability of high resolution images demands the use of an alternative approach that can give accurate information about the reservoir water-spread area. In this work, IRS, LISS III images of moderate (24 m) resolution were used for accurate estimation of the water-spread area of Singoor reservoir, southern India. The reservoir water-spread areas were extracted using per-pixel classification, sub-pixel classification and super resolution mapping approaches. These results were validated with the water-spread areas obtained from field data of the same dates. The error produced by the per-pixel approach was 6.66%, while it was 4.37% for the sub-pixel approach and a meagre 1.71% for the super-resolution approach. Fairly less error produced by the super resolution mapping technique implies that it is an efficient approach for accurate quantification of reservoir water-spread area. The estimated water-spread can be used in a simple volume estimation formula to estimate the capacity of the reservoir.     

Development of S-NPP VIIRS global surface type classification map using support vector machines

With the launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)/Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite in October 2011, many of the terrestrial remote sensing products generated from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), such as the global land cover map, have been inherited and expanded into the JPSS/S-NPP mission using the new Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) data. In this study, an improved algorithm including the use of a new classifier support vector machines (SVM) classifier was proposed to produce VIIRS surface type maps. In addition to the new classification algorithm, a new post-processing strategy involving the use of new ancillary data to refine the classification output is implemented. As a result, the new global International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) map based on the 2014 VIIRS surface reflectance data was generated with a 78.5 ± 0.6% overall classification accuracy. The new map was compared to a previously delivered VIIRS surface type map, and to the MODIS land cover product. Validation results including the error matrix, overall accuracy, and the user’s and producer’s accuracy suggest the new global surface type map provides similar classification accuracy compared to the old VIIRS surface type map, with higher accuracy achieved in agricultural types.     

基于SVM的高分一号卫星影像分类

以辽宁阜新为研究区,运用支持向量机(SVM)的方法对高分一号8 m,16 m和Landsat8多光谱影像进行土地利用分类对比研究。实验表明,SVM的分类精度高于最小距离和最大似然方法,高分一号多光谱数据的分类精度高于Landsat8数据,可以应用于土地利用的分类。     

A study of supervised classification accuracy in fuzzy topological methods

The multiple classifier system (MCS) is an effective automatic classification method, useful in connection with remote sensing analysis techniques. Combining MSC with induced fuzzy topology enables a decomposition of image classes. This fuzzy topological MCS then provides a new and improved approach to classification. The basic classification methods discussed in this paper include maximum likelihood classification (MLC), minimum distance classification (MIND) and Mahalanobis distance classification (MAH).     

Introducing sensor spectral response into the classification process

Many sensors have their bands overlapped and therefore do not set a normal space. If a spectral distance is measured, as in first-order statistical classifiers, the direct consequence is that the result will not be the most accurate. Image classification processes are independent of the spectral response function of the sensor, so this overlap is usually ignored during image processing. This paper presents a methodology that introduces the spectral response function of sensors into the classification process to increase its accuracy. This process takes place in two steps: first, incident energy values of the sensors are reconstructed; second, the energy of the bands is set in an orthonormal space using a matrix singular value decomposition. Sensors with and without overlapping spectral bands were simulated to evaluate the reconstruction of energy values. The whole process was implemented on three types of images with medium, high and very high spatial resolution obtained with the sensors ASTER, IKONOS and DMC camera, respectively. These images were classified by ISODATA and minimum distance algorithms. The ISODATA classifier showed well-defined features in the processed images, while the results were less clear in the original images. At the same time, the minimum distance classifier showed that overall accuracy of the processed images increased as the maximum tolerance distance decreased compared to the original images.     

Model Building to Investigate the Role of Spatial Location in Classifying Satellite Image Using SVM,CART and mBACT: A Case Study

This paper investigates the importance of spatial location of pixels in terms of row-column as an additional explanatory variable in classification along with available spectral bands of remotely sensed data. In view of this, a forward step-wise variable selection algorithm is used to select significant bands/variables and build an optimal model to extract the maximum accuracy. Author performed a case study on the area of town of Wolfville acquired by LANDSAT 5 TM data containing six 30 m resolution spectral bands and pixel location as an additional variable. Data are classified into seven classes using three advanced classifiers i.e. classification and regression trees (CART), support vector machines (SVM) and multi-class Bayesian additive classification tree (mBACT). Traditionally, it is assumed that addition of more explanatory variables always increase the accuracy of classified satellite images. However, results of this study show that adding more variables may sometimes confuse the classifier, that is, if selected carefully, fewer variables can provide the more accurate classification. Importance of row-column information turns out to be more beneficial for mBACT followed by SVM. Interestingly, spatial locations did not turn out to be useful for CART. Based on the findings of this study, mBACT appears to be a slightly better classifier than SVM and a substantially better than CART.