TM classification using local spectral variability

A classification method which takes into account not only spectral but also spatial features for LANDSAT‐4 and 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data is proposed. In accordance with improvement of Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV), spatial information such as textural, contextual, etc. is also increased so that some treatments of such information is highly required. One of the simplest spatial features is local spectral variability such as standard deviation, variability constant, variance, etc. in small cells such as 2x2,3x3 pixels. Such information can be used together with conventional spectral features in an unified way, for the traditional classifier such as a pixel‐wise Maximum Likelihood Decision Rule (MLDR). From the experiments, there was a substantial improvement in overall classification accuracy for TM forestry data. The probability of correct classification (PCC) for the new clearcut and the alpine meadow classes increased by 7% to 97% correct. The confusion between alpine meadow and new clearcut was reduced from 9% to 3%.