A Comparison of Multisensor Integration Methods for Land Cover Classification in the Brazilian Amazon

Many data fusion methods are available, but it is poorly understood which fusion method is suitable for integrating Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and radar data for land cover classification. This research explores the integration of Landsat TM and radar images (i.e., ALOS PALSAR L-band and RADARSAT-2 C-band) for land cover classification in a moist tropical region of the Brazilian Amazon. Different data fusion methods—principal component analysis (PCA), wavelet-merging technique (Wavelet), high-pass filter resolution-merging (HPF), and normalized multiplication (NMM)—were explored. Land cover classification was conducted with maximum likelihood classification based on different scenarios. This research indicates that individual radar data yield much poorer land cover classifications than TM data, and PALSAR L-band data perform relatively better than RADARSAT-2 C-band data. Compared to the TM data, the Wavelet multisensor fusion improved overall classification by 3.3%-5.7%, HPF performed similarly, but PCA and NMM reduced overall classification accuracy by 5.1%-6.1% and 7.6%-12.7%, respectively. Different polarization options, such as HH and HV, work similarly when used in data fusion. This research underscores the importance of selecting a suitable data fusion method that can preserve spectral fidelity while improving spatial resolution.     

Evaluation of image fusion methods using PALSAR,RADARSAT-1 and SPOT images for land use/ land cover classification

This research aimed to explore the fusion of multispectral optical SPOT data with microwave L-band ALOS PALSAR and C-band RADARSAT-1 data for a detailed land use/cover mapping to find out the individual contributions of different wavelengths. Many fusion approaches have been implemented and analyzed for various applications using different remote sensing images. However, the fusion methods have conflict in the context of land use/cover (LULC) mapping using optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images together. In this research two SAR images ALOS PALSAR and RADARSAT-1 were fused with SPOT data. Although, both SAR data were gathered in same polarization, and had same ground resolution, they differ in wavelengths. As different data fusion methods, intensity hue saturation (IHS), principal component analysis, discrete wavelet transformation, high pass frequency (HPF), and Ehlers, were performed and compared. For the quality analyses, visual interpretation was applied as a qualitative analysis, and spectral quality metrics of the fused images, such as correlation coefficient (CC) and universal image quality index (UIQI) were applied as a quantitative analysis. Furthermore, multispectral SPOT image and SAR fused images were classified with Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) method for the evaluation of their efficiencies. Ehlers gave the best score in the quality analysis and for the accuracy of LULC on LULC mapping of PALSAR and RADARSAT images. The results showed that the HPF method is in the second place with an increased thematic mapping accuracy. IHS had the worse results in all analyses. Overall, it is indicated that Ehlers method is a powerful technique to improve the LULC classification.     

A comparative data-fusion analysis of multi-sensor satellite images

Remote-sensing data play an important role in extracting information with the help of various sensors having different spectral, spatial and temporal resolutions. Therefore, data fusion, which merges images of different spatial and spectral resolutions, plays an important role in information extraction. This research investigates quality-assessment methods of multisensor (synthetic aperture radar [SAR] and optical) data fusion. In the analysis, three SAR data-sets from different sensors (RADARSAT-1, ALOS-PALSAR and ENVISAT-ASAR) and optical data from SPOT-2 were used. Although the PALSAR and the RADARSAT-1 images have the same resolutions and polarisations, images are gathered in different frequencies (L and C bands, respectively). The ASAR sensor also has C-band radar, but with lower (25 m) resolution. Since the frequency is a key factor for penetration depth, it is thought that the use of different SAR data might give interesting results as an output. This study describes a comparative study of multisensor fusion methods, namely the intensity-hue-saturation, Ehlers, and Brovey techniques, by using different statistical analysis techniques, namely the bias of mean, correlation coefficient, standard deviation difference and universal image quality index methods. The results reveal that Ehlers' method is superior to the others in terms of spectral and statistical fidelity.     

ALOS PALSAR双极化数据水稻制图

以江苏省海安县为研究区,使用2008年获取的日本ALOS卫星PALSAR双极化模式数据,分析水稻在L波段SAR图像上的后向散射特征,并提出相应的水稻制图方法。水稻在L波段上表现出了和C波段相同的时相变化特征。HH极化后向散射依赖于水稻植株的空间分布结构,某些机械插秧区域的布拉格共振现象引起水稻后向散射严重增强,给利用PALSAR数据水稻制图带来了困难。而HV极化不存在布拉格共振现象。在考虑布拉格共振影响的条件下,提出了联合PALSAR双极化模式HH和HV极化数据、基于时相变化特征进行水稻制图的方法,获得了88.4%的制图精度。     

一种基于小波系数特征的遥感图像融合算法

多光谱图像和全色图像是目前卫星遥感领域最常见的传感器图像.为了更充分地发挥这两类遥感图像数据的价值,人们利用两类数据的互补性,将多传感器融合技术引进了遥感图像处理领域.在IHS彩色空间变换和小波多分辨率分析的基础上,利用图像高频小波系数的多个特征来定义特征量积,并利用特征量积作为依据提出了一种图像融合新算法.通过一组多光谱图像和全色图像数据进行融合仿真试验,并将该算法与IHS,HPF等算法和归一化矩算法作了比较.证明该方法能在保留多光谱图像光谱信息的基础上,有效地提高多光谱图像的空间分辨率.     

An efficient application of fusion approach for hot spot detection with MODIS and PALSAR-1 data

Hot spot detection with satellite images, especially with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is still a challenging task. Several researchers have used TM/optical data for identification of hot spot but the use of SAR data is very limited for this type of application. The fusion of SAR data with TM/optical data may add additional information which in turn will lead for enhancement of detection capability of the hot spot. Therefore, this study explores the possibility of fusion of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) satellite images for the hot spot detection. Image fusion is emerging as a powerful tool where information of various sensors can be used for obtaining better results. For this purpose, vegetation greenness and roughness information which is obtained from MODIS and PALSAR satellite images, respectively, are used for fusion, and then, a contextual-based thresholding algorithm is applied to the fused image for hot spot detection. The proposed approach comprises of two steps: (1) application of genetic algorithm-based scheme for image fusion of MODIS and PALSAR satellite images, and (2) classification of the fused image as either hot spot or non-hot spot pixels by employing a contextual thresholding technique. The algorithm is tested over the Jharia Coal Field region of India, where hot spot is one of the major problems and it is observed that the proposed thresholding technique classifies the each pixel of the fused image into two categories: hot spot and non-hot spot and the proposed approach detects the hot spot with better accuracy and less false alarm.     

Forest aboveground biomass estimation in Zhejiang Province using the integration of Landsat TM and ALOS PALSAR data

In remote sensing–based forest aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation research, data saturation in Landsat and radar data is well known, but how to reduce this problem for improving AGB estimation has not been fully examined. Different vegetation types have their own species composition and stand structure, thus they have different data saturation values in Landsat or radar data. Optical and radar data also have different characteristics in representing forest stand structures, thus effective use of their features may improve AGB estimation. This research examines the effects of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and ALOS PALSAR L-band data and their integrations in forest AGB estimation of Zhejiang Province, China, and the roles of textural images from both datasets. The linear regression models of AGB were conducted by using (1) Landsat TM alone, (2) ALOS PALSAR data alone, (3) their combination as extra bands, and (4) their data fusion, based on non-stratification and stratification of vegetation types, respectively. The results show that (1) overall, Landsat TM data perform better than PALSAR data, but the latter can produce more accurate estimates for bamboo and shrub, and for forests with AGB values less than 60 Mg/ha; (2) the combination of TM and PALSAR data as extra bands can greatly improve AGB estimation performance, but their fusion using the modified high-pass filter resolution-merging technique cannot; (3) textures are indeed valuable in AGB estimation, especially for forests with complex stand structures such as mixed forests and pine forests with understories of broadleaf species; (4) stratification of vegetation types can improve AGB estimation performance; and (5) the results from the linear regression models are characterized by overestimation and underestimation for the smaller and larger AGB values, respectively, and thus, selecting non-linear models or non-parametric algorithms may be needed in future research.     

多光谱遥感影像与高分辨率全色影像融合研究

选取浙江省绍兴市作为研究区 ,探讨了IHS变换、PCA变换及Brovey变换等融合方法 ,发现Brovey变换更适合于多光谱数据与高分辨率全色数据之间的融合。     

The assessment of multi-sensor image fusion using wavelet transforms for mapping the Brazilian Savanna

Multi-sensor image fusion using the wavelet approach provides a conceptual framework for the improvement of the spatial resolution with minimal distortion of the spectral content of the source image. This paper assesses whether images with a large ratio of spatial resolution can be fused, and evaluates the potential of using such fused images for mapping the Brazilian Savanna. Three types of wavelet transforms were used to perform the fusion between MODIS and Landsat TM images. Five quality measures were defined to assess the quality of the fused images. The results showed that it was possible to perform the fusion of MODIS and TM images and the pyramidal in Fourier space wavelet transform provided the best quality measures for the fused images. Classification results showed that fused images could be used for mapping the Brazilian Savanna with an accuracy level comparable to the Landsat TM image.     

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.     

Detection of impervious surface change with multitemporal Landsat images in an urban–rural frontier

Mapping and monitoring impervious surface dynamic change in a complex urban-rural frontier with medium or coarse spatial resolution images is a challenge due to the mixed pixel problem and the spectral confusion between impervious surfaces and other non-vegetation land covers. This research selected Lucas do Rio Verde County in Mato Grosso State, Brazil as a case study to improve impervious surface estimation performance by the integrated use of Landsat and QuickBird images and to monitor impervious surface change by analyzing the normalized multitemporal Landsat-derived fractional impervious surfaces. This research demonstrates the importance of two-step calibrations. The first step is to calibrate the Landsat-derived fraction impervious surface values through the established regression model based on the QuickBird-derived impervious surface image in 2008. The second step is to conduct the normalization between the calibrated 2008 impervious surface image with other dates of impervious surface images. This research indicates that the per-pixel based method overestimates the impervious surface area in the urban-rural frontier by 50%-60%. In order to accurately estimate impervious surface area, it is necessary to map the fractional impervious surface image and further calibrate the estimates with high spatial resolution images. Also normalization of the multitemporal fractional impervious surface images is needed to reduce the impacts from different environmental conditions, in order to effectively detect the impervious surface dynamic change in a complex urban-rural frontier. The procedure developed in this paper for mapping and monitoring impervious surface area is especially valuable in urban-rural frontiers where multitemporal Landsat images are difficult to be used for accurately extracting impervious surface features based on traditional per-pixel based classification methods as they cannot effectively handle the mixed pixel problem.     

Spectral and Spatial Quality Analysis in Pan Sharpening Process

Image fusion is a process to obtain new images containing more information by combining images obtained same or different sensors. With most of the earth observation satellites, high spatial resolution panchromatic images and low spatial resolution multispectral images are obtained. As an example of image fusion ??pan sharpening?? is a process of combining of high spatial resolution panchromatic images and low spatial resolution multispectral images. At the end of the fusion process both high spatial and spectral resolution new images are obtained. In this study, panchromatic and multispectral images gathered from Ikonos were used. Panchromatic and multispectral images belonging to the same sensor were combined by using different image fusion methods. As pan sharpening methods Brovey transform, Modified IHS, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Wavelet PC transform and Wavelet A Trous transformation methods were used. Quality of fused products was evaluated from the point of view of both visual and statistical criteria. While wavelet based methods are succesfull in terms of protection of spectral quality of original multispectral images, the colorbased and statistical methods are giving better results within the improvement of spatial content.     

Multi-frequency satellite radar imaging of cultural heritage: the case studies of the Yumen Frontier Pass and Niya ruins in the Western Regions of the Silk Road Corridor

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing is increasingly favoured in archaeological applications. However, the effectiveness of this technology for archaeological prospection has so far not been fully assessed. In this study, an integrated single-date and multi-temporal SAR data-processing chain was proposed to sharpen archaeological signs and hence their detection and monitoring. In total, 14 scenes of X-band Cosmo-SkyMed, C-band Sentinel-1 and L-band PALSAR data covering the Western Regions of the Silk Road Corridor in China were employed for two important archaeological sites including the Yumen Frontier Pass with emerging archaeological traces and Niya ruins with subsurface remains. The results pointed out that single-date satellite radar data were useful for the identification of subsurface traces buried under desert in the landscape-scale, whereas for the identification of emerging monuments, Sentinel-1 was limited by its lower spatial resolution compared to TerraSAR and PALSAR data. Multi-date products, such as interferometric coherence, the averaged radar signatures and RGB multi-temporal composites, were effective to sharpen archaeological traces as well as for change detection in Yumen Frontier Pass. This study presents a pilot assessment of satellite SAR data for the analysis and monitoring of archaeological features in the predominantly arid-sandy environmental characteristic of investigated sites.     

基于ALOS PALSAR数据进行雷达差分干涉提取玉树地震同震地表形变场

本文针对2010年4月14日玉树地震引起的地表形变,使用日本ALOS卫星PALSAR L波段雷达影像数据,应用两轨雷达差分干涉(DInSAR)处理得到了以玉树为中心11 000km2范围内的同震形变场,空间分辨率为8m,并在此基础上对玉树地震的震源机制和发震机理进行了分析。研究结果表明L波段雷达数据适合在地形起伏较大的地区进行DInSAR形变探测。该同震形变场信息可为玉树地震的同震形变反演提供参考数据。该研究进一步证实DInSAR技术在大规模地表形变探测和地学研究领域具有广阔的应用前景。     

保持光谱信息的遥感图像融合方法研究

常用的遥感图像融合方法,如IHS变换法、Brovey变换法和主成分变换法等在实施图像融合时,均会有不同程度的光谱扭曲现象.探讨能有效保持光谱信息的EECN融合法.EECN融合法采用比值变换法,同时对参与融合的全色波段进行增强边缘,融合后的图像在光谱保持性能、分类精度等方面均较优.     

利用L波段星载重复轨道干涉SAR提取DEM及大气效应分析

以四川省茂县、安县地区的ALOS PALSAR L波段雷达影像为数据源,在对地形复杂区的配准、解缠等算法研究的基础上,结合SAR特有的成像几何结构,对两幅SAR图像进行快速自动配准,配准误差小于0.2个像元;在去除平地引起的干涉相位变化后,运用MCF对缠绕相位进行解缠,在此基础上提取研究区的数字高程模型(DEM),分析发现精度受多种因素影响,其中波长较长的L波段数据比波长较短的时间相关性好,此外为消除大气效应,采用改进的相位累积法去除大气的影响,在一定程度上提高DEM精度。其误差范围在±10m左右,对快速提取地形信息具有一定的借鉴意义。     

基于分辨率退化模型的全色和多光谱遥感影像融合方法

从影像成像的频率特性出发，提出了一种影像分辨率退化模型，并在此基础上提出了一种新的全色和多光谱遥感影像融合方法。     

利用雷达干涉数据进行城市不透水层百分比估算

人工不透水层是城市地区的重要特征.作为城市生态环境的关键指数,不透水层百分比(Impervious Surfaces Percentage, ISP)常用于城市水文过程模拟、水质面源污染及城市专题制图等研究中.本文利用ERS-1/2 重复轨道雷达干涉数据,采用分类与回归树(CART)算法探究了雷达遥感在城市ISP估算中的可行性和潜力,并与SPOT5 HRG光学遥感图像的估算结果进行了分析比较.香港九龙港岛实验区的初步研究结果表明,雷达干涉数据在城市不透水层研究中具有一定的应用潜力,特别是裸土和稀疏植被的ISP估算结果要好于光学遥感,这主要得益于雷达干涉数据(特别是长时间相干图像)在人工建筑物和裸土或稀疏植被之间具有很强的区分能力,另外,雷达干涉数据和光学遥感数据间的融合能够提高ISP估算精度.     

Assessing Optimal Image Fusion Methods for Very High Spatial Resolution Satellite Images to Support Coastal Monitoring

This study examines best image fusion approaches for generating pansharpened very high resolution (VHR) multispectral images to be utilized for monitoring coastal barrier island development. Selected fusion techniques assessed in this research come from the three categories of spectral substitution (e.g., Brovey transform and multiplicative merging), arithmetic merging (e.g., modified intensity-hue-saturation and principal component analysis), and spatial domain (e.g., high-pass filter, and subtractive resolution merge). The image fusion methods selected for this study were capable of producing pansharpened VHR images with more than three bands. Comparisons of fusion techniques were applied to images from three satellite sensors: United States commercial satellites IKONOS and QuickBird, and the Korean KOMPSAT II. Pansharpened VHR multispectral images were assessed by spectral and spatial quality measurements. Results satisfying both spectral and spatial quality revealed optimum pansharpened techniques necessary for regular coastal mapping of barrier islands. These techniques may also be used to assess the quality of recently available VHR imagery acquired by numerous international, government, and commercial VHR satellite programs.     

L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery performs better than optical datasets at retrieving woody fractional cover in deciduous,dry savannahs

Woody canopy cover (CC) is the simplest two dimensional metric for assessing the presence of the woody component in savannahs, but detailed validated maps are not currently available in southern African savannahs. A number of international EO programs (including in savannah landscapes) advocate and use optical LandSAT imagery for regional to country-wide mapping of woody canopy cover. However, previous research has shown that L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provides good performance at retrieving woody canopy cover in southern African savannahs. This study’s objective was to evaluate, compare and use in combination L-band ALOS PALSAR and LandSAT-5 TM, in a Random Forest environment, to assess the benefits of using LandSAT compared to ALOS PALSAR. Additional objectives saw the testing of LandSAT-5 image seasonality, spectral vegetation indices and image textures for improved CC modelling. Results showed that LandSAT-5 imagery acquired in the summer and autumn seasons yielded the highest single season modelling accuracies (R² between 0.47 and 0.65), depending on the year but the combination of multi-seasonal images yielded higher accuracies (R² between 0.57 and 0.72). The derivation of spectral vegetation indices and image textures and their combinations with optical reflectance bands provided minimal improvement with no optical-only result exceeding the winter SAR L-band backscatter alone results (R² of ∼0.8). The integration of seasonally appropriate LandSAT-5 image reflectance and L-band HH and HV backscatter data does provide a significant improvement for CC modelling at the higher end of the model performance (R² between 0.83 and 0.88), but we conclude that L-band only based CC modelling be recommended for South African regions.