Downscaling in remote sensing

Downscaling has an important role to play in remote sensing. It allows prediction at a finer spatial resolution than that of the input imagery, based on either (i) assumptions or prior knowledge about the character of the target spatial variation coupled with spatial optimisation, (ii) spatial prediction through interpolation or (iii) direct information on the relation between spatial resolutions in the form of a regression model. Two classes of goal can be distinguished based on whether continua are predicted (through downscaling or area-to-point prediction) or categories are predicted (super-resolution mapping), in both cases from continuous input data. This paper reviews a range of techniques for both goals, focusing on area-to-point kriging and downscaling cokriging in the former case and spatial optimisation techniques and multiple point geostatistics in the latter case. Several issues are discussed including the information content of training data, including training images, the need for model-based uncertainty information to accompany downscaling predictions, and the fundamental limits on the representativeness of downscaling predictions. The paper ends with a look towards the grand challenge of downscaling in the context of time-series image stacks. The challenge here is to use all the available information to produce a downscaled series of images that is coherent between images and, thus, which helps to distinguish real changes (signal) from noise.     

Stochastic gradient boosting classification trees for forest fuel types mapping through airborne laser scanning and IRS LISS-III imagery

This paper presents an application of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data in conjunction with an IRS LISS-III image for mapping forest fuel types. For two study areas of 165 km² and 487 km² in Sicily (Italy), 16,761 plots of size 30-m × 30-m were distributed using a tessellation-based stratified sampling scheme. ALS metrics and spectral signatures from IRS extracted for each plot were used as predictors to classify forest fuel types observed and identified by photointerpretation and fieldwork. Following use of traditional parametric methods that produced unsatisfactory results, three non-parametric classification approaches were tested: (i) classification and regression tree (CART), (ii) the CART bagging method called Random Forests, and (iii) the CART bagging/boosting stochastic gradient boosting (SGB) approach. This contribution summarizes previous experiences using ALS data for estimating forest variables useful for fire management in general and for fuel type mapping, in particular. It summarizes characteristics of classification and regression trees, presents the pre-processing operation, the classification algorithms, and the achieved results. The results demonstrated superiority of the SGB method with overall accuracy of 84%. The most relevant ALS metric was canopy cover, defined as the percent of non-ground returns. Other relevant metrics included the spectral information from IRS and several other ALS metrics such as percentiles of the height distribution, the mean height of all returns, and the number of returns.     

基于六角格的陆地边界环境模型构建方法研究

陆地边界环境是边界划界与边界区域分析的基础,是关系到国家利益的重要内容。然而,国内外对相关技术的研究却不多,研究成果更少。针对这一问题,本文分析了陆地边界环境的具体内容,提出了基于六角格的陆地边界环境模型,探讨了模型的构建流程,研究了建模过程中的几项关键技术,包括数学基础的确定、区域剖分技术、区域细分技术及信息映射方法等。最后对模型技术进行了总结,展望了其实际应用前景。     

一等水准点之记标准化与规范化研究

为保证一等水准点之记精度与质量,提高测绘人员野外工作效率,对目前的一等水准点之记进行了探讨与分析,指出了其详细位置图与点位,详细说明表达、标石断面图绘制和经纬度书写及交通路线描述中存在的缺点,并基于此提出了若干改进意见,这在一定程度上促进了一等水准点之记信息的标准化与规范化。     

Using a simulation analysis to evaluate the impact of crop mapping error on crop area estimation from stratified sampling

ABSTRACT

To analyze the efficiency of area estimations (i.e. estimation accuracy and variation of estimation) impacted by crop mapping error, we simulated error at eight levels for thematic maps using a stratified sampling estimation methodology. The results show that the estimation efficiency is influenced by the combination of the sample size and the error level. Evaluating the trade-offs between sample size and error level showed that reducing the crop mapping error level provides the most benefit (i.e. higher estimation efficiency). Further, sampling performance differed based on the heterogeneity of the crop area. The results demonstrated that the influence of increasing the error level on estimation efficiency is more detrimental in heterogeneous areas than in homogeneous ones. Therefore, to obtain higher estimation efficiency, a larger sample size and lower error level or both are needed, especially in heterogeneous areas. We suggest that existing land-cover maps should first be used to determine the heterogeneity of the area. The appropriate sample size for these areas then can be determined according to all three factors: heterogeneity, expected estimation efficiency, and sampling budget. Overall, extending our understanding of the impacts of crop mapping error is necessary for decision making to improve our ability to effectively estimate crop area.     

A Cartographer,Shaped by Context and Challenged by Classics

Abstract

Using examples from the governmental, commercial and educational sectors, the development of photo maps and mapping using satellite imagery is outlined. The emphasis of this paper is on the design possibilities and limitations which are evident in these products. Contrast and legibility problems and image clutter are considered, but it is concluded that the institutional impediments to the collaboration of specialists in researching and designing such maps may be of most importance in determining progress in the use of such maps.     

论军事测绘学与军事地理学发展的“分异”与“聚焦”

军事测绘学和军事地理学的演进与发展,都有近两千多年的历史,如今都已进入信息时代,成为分属工科和理科的两门独立的学科。本文论述了军事测绘学和军事地理学的研究对象、内容、范围和方法;分析了军事测绘学和军事地理学各自的发展过程,描述了各自的演进轨迹,特别是分析了信息时代的军事测绘学和军事地理学的发展趋势和各自特点;就军事测绘学和军事地理学在战场地理环境信息保障中的作用,分别从战场地理环境信息保障的两种思维、发展过程、发展特点和发展趋势等几个方面,分析了军事测绘学和军事地理学的"分异"与"聚焦";最后,从哲学的高度论述了"空间与时间一起构成运动着的物质存在的两种基本形式"和"空间参照与时间参照是自然与社会现象的两个基本参照系统"的观点,认为军事测绘学和军事地理学都是研究存在于空间和时间之中且运动着的物质,但研究的具体对象、内容、范围和方法有很大区别,必将在无限和有限统一的空间和时间中深化各自的研究内容、开拓各自的研究范围,创新各自的研究方法,同时又更加紧密地聚焦于战场地理环境信息保障。     

从共享库“智能制图”谈测绘地理信息服务新思路

建设宁夏地理空间基础信息共享库,有效地整合了交通、水利等部门地理数据资源,集中建立了覆盖全区、多比例尺的地理空间共享库,为政府部门和社会公众提供了基础数据服务。特别是其中创新的"智能制图"部分,是测绘地理信息服务型新思路的集中体现。通过网络制图新模式,用户无须使用任何地理信息软硬件,依据共享库里提供的免费底图和符号工具,就可以方便快捷地创建自己需要的地图,创建好的地图还可以通过链接页面对组织内部分享,可操作性强,具有广泛的应用前景。     

行业高校测绘卓越工程师多元化培养模式构建研究与实践

“测绘卓越工程师教育培养计划”是《国家中长期教育改革和发展规划纲要》高等教育改革和发展中具有战略性意义的一项重要任务。本文紧抓人才培养模式创新的关键性要素作为切入点,创建了一套行业需求为导向的测绘工程专业卓越人才培养体系,搭建“高工程素质、强实践能力”的人才培养模式,完善专业课程体系,加强师资队伍建设,强化多元实践教学,构筑创新实践平台,着力提高学生的工程意识、工程素质和工程实践能力。