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At least 145 records · Page 8

The use of prior probabilities in maximum likelihood classification of remotely sensed data

Possibilities for the improvement of classification accuracies by the use of prior information about the expected distribution of classes in the maximum likelihood classification of remote sensing data are examined. The modification of the maximum likelihood decision rule to take into account one or several sets of probabilities for the occurrence of classes which probabilities are based on independent knowledge of the area surveyed is demonstrated. It is then shown that the use of prior probabilities is sufficiently versatile so as to allow the prior weighting of output classes based on their anticipated sizes as well as the merging of continuously varying measurements with discrete collateral information data sets and the construction of time-sequential classification systems in which an earlier classification modifies the outcome of a latter one.

Strahler, A. H.↗

Cloud classification from satellite data using a fuzzy sets algorithm: A polar example

Where spatial boundaries between phenomena are diffuse, classification methods which construct mutually exclusive clusters seem inappropriate. The Fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm assigns each observation to all clusters, with membership values as a function of distance to the cluster center. The FCM algorithm is applied to AVHRR data for the purpose of classifying polar clouds and surfaces. Careful analysis of the fuzzy sets can provide information on which spectral channels are best suited to the classification of particular features, and can help determine likely areas of misclassification. General agreement in the resulting classes and cloud fraction was found between the FCM algorithm, a manual classification, and an unsupervised maximum likelihood classifier.

Key, J. R.↗

Cloud classification from satellite data using a fuzzy sets algorithm - A polar example

Where spatial boundaries between phenomena are diffuse, classification methods which construct mutually exclusive clusters seem inappropriate. The Fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm assigns each observation to all clusters, with membership values as a function of distance to the cluster center. The FCM algorithm is applied to AVHRR data for the purpose of classifying polar clouds and surfaces. Careful analysis of the fuzzy sets can provide information on which spectral channels are best suited to the classification of particular features, and can help determine like areas of misclassification. General agreement in the resulting classes and cloud fraction was found between the FCM algorithm, a manual classification, and an unsupervised maximum likelihood classifier.

Key, J. R.↗

Real-time expert system and neural network for the classification of remotely sensed data

The paper examines software techniques for classifying remotely sensed data such that the number of computational steps and the amount of resources are bounded. The combination of both neural network and expert system methodology for classifying these data based on land use/land cover categories is examined. The method involves pipelining images through a neural net for initial classification and then through the expert system which resolves the ambiguous classifications. As with any pipeline, every component must have approximately equivalent run-times or otherwise a bottleneck will occur. If real-time is a requirement, each of the components must execute within a bounded number of steps. Attention is focused on the real-time system technique, which is argued to prevent a bottleneck for this data classification application.

Short, Nicholas, Jr.↗

Linear dimensionality of Landsat agricultural data with implications for classification

A model for the Landsat multispectral scanner data, representing a generalization of the commonly used Gaussian model, has been formulated and analyzed. The model hypothesizes that the data for different crop types essentially lie on distinct hyperplanes in the feature space. Tests of this model reveal that: (1) the agricultural data from any single acquisition (i.e., four-channel) of Landsat are essentially two dimensional, regardless of the crop type; and (2) the data from different sites and different stages of crop development all lie on planes which are parallel. These findings have significant implications for data display, classification, feature extraction, and signature extension.

Wheeler, S. G.↗

Feature extraction and classification algorithms for high dimensional data

Feature extraction and classification algorithms for high dimensional data are investigated. Developments with regard to sensors for Earth observation are moving in the direction of providing much higher dimensional multispectral imagery than is now possible. In analyzing such high dimensional data, processing time becomes an important factor. With large increases in dimensionality and the number of classes, processing time will increase significantly. To address this problem, a multistage classification scheme is proposed which reduces the processing time substantially by eliminating unlikely classes from further consideration at each stage. Several truncation criteria are developed and the relationship between thresholds and the error caused by the truncation is investigated. Next an approach to feature extraction for classification is proposed based directly on the decision boundaries. It is shown that all the features needed for classification can be extracted from decision boundaries. A characteristic of the proposed method arises by noting that only a portion of the decision boundary is effective in discriminating between classes, and the concept of the effective decision boundary is introduced. The proposed feature extraction algorithm has several desirable properties: it predicts the minimum number of features necessary to achieve the same classification accuracy as in the original space for a given pattern recognition problem; and it finds the necessary feature vectors. The proposed algorithm does not deteriorate under the circumstances of equal means or equal covariances as some previous algorithms do. In addition, the decision boundary feature extraction algorithm can be used both for parametric and non-parametric classifiers. Finally, some problems encountered in analyzing high dimensional data are studied and possible solutions are proposed. First, the increased importance of the second order statistics in analyzing high dimensional data is recognized. By investigating the characteristics of high dimensional data, the reason why the second order statistics must be taken into account in high dimensional data is suggested. Recognizing the importance of the second order statistics, there is a need to represent the second order statistics. A method to visualize statistics using a color code is proposed. By representing statistics using color coding, one can easily extract and compare the first and the second statistics.

Lee, Chulhee↗

Comparison of MSS and TM Data for Landcover Classification in the Chesapeake Bay Area: a Preliminary Report

An area bordering the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay was selected for study and classified using unsupervised techniques applied to LANDSAT-2 MSS data and several band combinations of LANDSAT-4 TM data. The accuracies of these Level I land cover classifications were verified using the Taylor's Island USGS 7.5 minute topographic map which was photointerpreted, digitized and rasterized. The the Taylor's Island map, comparing the MSS and TM three band (2 3 4) classifications, the increased resolution of TM produced a small improvement in overall accuracy of 1% correct due primarily to a small improvement, and 1% and 3%, in areas such as water and woodland. This was expected as the MSS data typically produce high accuracies for categories which cover large contiguous areas. However, in the categories covering smaller areas within the map there was generally an improvement of at least 10%. Classification of the important residential category improved 12%, and wetlands were mapped with 11% greater accuracy.

Mulligan, P. J.↗

Improvements in forest classification and inventory using remotely sensed data

A Forest Classification and Inventory System (Focis) has been developed for large area forest inventories on the basis of Landsat and digital terrain data. It is a potential advantage of Focis that it can provide timely inventories at a reduced cost which are easily updated. The Klamath National Forest in Northern California was employed as test area for the initial development of Focis. Focis is constantly being changed and improved. Two recent additions to the inventory system include a spatial filtering algorithm which improves the spatial coherence in the final classified image, and a modification to the classification procedure designed to reduce the adverse effects of local topography on classification accuracy. Attention is given to a Focis overview, spatial filtering, the interface with the forest service geographic information system, and efforts to reduce the influence of topography.

Woodcock, C. E.↗

A method of classification for multisource data in remote sensing based on interval-valued probabilities

An axiomatic approach to intervalued (IV) probabilities is presented, where the IV probability is defined by a pair of set-theoretic functions which satisfy some pre-specified axioms. On the basis of this approach representation of statistical evidence and combination of multiple bodies of evidence are emphasized. Although IV probabilities provide an innovative means for the representation and combination of evidential information, they make the decision process rather complicated. It entails more intelligent strategies for making decisions. The development of decision rules over IV probabilities is discussed from the viewpoint of statistical pattern recognition. The proposed method, so called evidential reasoning method, is applied to the ground-cover classification of a multisource data set consisting of Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, and digital terrain data such as elevation, slope, and aspect. By treating the data sources separately, the method is able to capture both parametric and nonparametric information and to combine them. Then the method is applied to two separate cases of classifying multiband data obtained by a single sensor. In each case a set of multiple sources is obtained by dividing the dimensionally huge data into smaller and more manageable pieces based on the global statistical correlation information. By a divide-and-combine process, the method is able to utilize more features than the conventional maximum likelihood method.

Kim, Hakil↗

Unsupervised classification of remote multispectral sensing data

The new unsupervised classification technique for classifying multispectral remote sensing data which can be either from the multispectral scanner or digitized color-separation aerial photographs consists of two parts: (a) a sequential statistical clustering which is a one-pass sequential variance analysis and (b) a generalized K-means clustering. In this composite clustering technique, the output of (a) is a set of initial clusters which are input to (b) for further improvement by an iterative scheme. Applications of the technique using an IBM-7094 computer on multispectral data sets over Purdue's Flight Line C-1 and the Yellowstone National Park test site have been accomplished. Comparisons between the classification maps by the unsupervised technique and the supervised maximum liklihood technique indicate that the classification accuracies are in agreement.

Su, M. Y.↗

Evaluation of several schemes for classification of remotely sensed data

Various numerical analysis schemes for the classification of remotely sensed data are evaluated with respect to their capabilities for crop identification. A per point Gaussian maximum likelihood classifier, per point sum-of-normal-densities classifier, per point linear classifier, per point Gaussian maximum likelihood decision tree classifier and a texture-sensitive per field Gaussian maximum likelihood classifier were applied to seven sets of Landsat MSS data on several crop types and regions. The results of the implementation of the classifiers indicate that, given a representative set of training statistics, the choice of classification algorithm of the differentiation of corn and soybeans from one another and from other crop types made relatively little difference in accuracy, whereas the use of a different training method affected the accuracy significantly. In addition, the linear classifier is found to be the easiest for the analyst to use and to cost least in computer time per classification.

Hixson, M.↗

African land-cover classification using satellite data

Data from the advanced very high resolution radiometer sensor on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's operational series of meteorological satellites were used to classify land cover and monitor vegetation dynamics for Africa over a 19-month period. There was a correspondence between seasonal variations in the density and extent of green leaf vegetation and the patterns of rainfall associated with the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Regional variations, such as the 1983 drought in the Sahel of western Africa, were observed. Integration of the weekly satellite data with respect to time for a 12-month period produced a remotely sensed estimate of primary production based upon the density and duration of green leaf biomass. Eight of the 21-day composited data sets covering an 11-month period were used to produce a general land-cover classification that corresponded well with those of existing maps.

Tucker, C. J.↗

Procedure 1 and forestland classification using Landsat data

Procedure 1 (P-1) was developed for the Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE) and has been used extensively to develop land-use classification of agricultural areas. The P-1 approach requires that pixels (also called dots) of known identity must be located in the study scene. The entire area is clustered and the spectral classes formed are identified using the dots. The analyst need only locate and identify the dots. The rest of the work is done by the computer. The objective of the reported study was to evaluate the effectiveness of P-1's automated approach in a complex forest-land situation. The study site was located in the eastern half of the San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado. The study showed that P-1 performed as well as the Multicluster Blocks approach on the rugged study area.

Nelson, R. F.↗

Land use classification for hydrologic models using interactive machine classification of LANDSAT data

Models designed to simulate the hydrology of urban areas require input parameters describing the land use and degree of imperviousness of the watershed. Unfortunately, the magnitude and spatial distribution of these parameters are rather difficult to estimate when a large watershed is involved. Trade-offs between accuracy of the model parameters and the time or money available for their determination must be made. Because of the necessity of such trade-offs, a study was developed to investigate the use of computer aided analysis of LANDSAT multispectral data in estimating percent of imperviousness and associated land uses needed in urban hydrologic modeling. An interactive computer was used to delineate seven land use classifications in the 342 sq. km. Maryland portion of the Anacostia River Basin from LANDSAT data. These results compared favorably with those of an earlier study which obtained the same information through analysis of aerial photographs having a scale of 1:4800. Approximately 94 man days were required to complete the land use analysis using the aerial photographs while less than three man days were required to accomplish similar tasks using the LANDSAT data.

Thomas J. Jackson↗