Image Analysis

Contents
• Introduction
• Interpretation of targets
• Visual Interpretation
1. Tone
2. Shape
3. Size
4. Pattern
5. Texture
6. Shadow
7. Association
• Digital Processing
 Introduction
• To extract meaningful information from
the imagery.
• Interpretation and analysis of remote
sensing imagery involves:
The identification and/or measurement of various
targets in an image in order to extract useful
information about them.
Interpretation of targets

• By Human Interpreter (Pictorial/Image)

Identification of targets in remote sensing imagery is performed manually or
visually
By Computer (Digital Format)
Remote sensing images can also be represented in a computer as arrays of
pixels, with each pixel corresponding to a digital number, representing the
brightness level of that pixel in the image.
 Visual Vs Digital Interpretation

Visual/Manual Digital
 Generally, manual interpretation requires little, if  While digital analysis requires specialized, and
any, specialized equipment. often expensive, equipment.
 Manual interpretation is often limited to  In this sense, digital analysis is useful for
analyzing only a single channel of data or a simultaneous analysis of many spectral bands.
single image at a time due to the difficulty
 It can process large data sets much faster than a
in performing visual interpretation with multiple
human interpreter.
images.
 Digital analysis is based on the manipulation of
 Manual interpretation is a subjective process,
digital numbers in a computer and is thus more
meaning that the results will vary with different
objective, generally resulting in more consistent
interpreters.
results.
Tone
• Tone refers to the relative
brightness or colour of objects in
an image.
• Generally, tone is the
fundamental element for
distinguishing between different
targets or features.
• Variations in tone also allows the
elements of shape, texture, and
pattern of objects to be
distinguished.
Shape
• Shape refers to the general form, structure,
or outline of individual objects.
• Shape can be a very distinctive clue for
interpretation.

• Straight edge shapes typically represent

urban or agricultural (field) targets, while
natural features, such as forest edges, are
generally more irregular in shape, except
where man has created a road or clear cuts.
Size
• Size of objects in an image is a function of scale.
• It is important to assess the size of a target relative to other objects in a
scene.
• A quick approximation of target size can direct interpretation to an
appropriate result more quickly.
• For example, if an interpreter had to distinguish zones of land use,
and had identified an area with a number of buildings in it, large
buildings such as factories would suggest commercial property,
whereas small buildings would indicate residential use.
Pattern
• Pattern refers to the spatial
arrangement of visibly
discernible objects.
• Orchards with evenly spaced
trees, and urban streets with
regularly spaced houses are good
examples of pattern.
Texture
• Texture refers to the arrangement and
frequency of tonal variation in particular areas
of an image.
• Rough textures would consist of a mottled
tone where the grey levels change abruptly in
a small area, whereas smooth textures would
have very little tonal variation.
• Smooth textures are most often the result of
uniform, even surfaces, such as fields, asphalt,
or grasslands.
• A target with a rough surface and irregular
structure, such as a forest canopy, results in a
rough textured appearance.
• Texture is one of the most important elements
for distinguishing features in radar imagery.
Shadow
• Shadow is also helpful in
interpretation as it may provide an idea
of the profile and relative height of a
target or targets which may make
identification easier.
• Shadow is also useful for enhancing or
identifying topography and landforms,
particularly in radar imagery.
Association
• Association takes into account the relationship
between other recognizable objects or features
in proximity to the target of interest.

• The identification of features that one would

expect to associate with other features may
provide information to facilitate identification.

• In the example given above, commercial

properties may be associated with proximity to
major transportation routes, whereas
residential areas would be associated with
schools, playgrounds, and sports fields.

• In our example, a lake is associated with

boats.
Digital Image Processing

• In order to process remote sensing imagery

digitally, the data must be recorded and
available in a digital form suitable for
storage on a computer tape or disk.

• Obviously, the other requirement for digital

image processing is a computer system,
sometimes referred to as an image analysis
system, with the appropriate hardware and
software to process the data
Most of the common image processing functions available in image analysis systems can
be categorized into the following four categories:

1. Preprocessing

2. Image Enhancement

3. Image Transformation

4. Image Classification and Analysis

Preprocessing
• Preprocessing functions involve those operations that are normally
required prior to the main data analysis and extraction of information,
and are generally grouped as radiometric or geometric corrections.

• Geometric corrections include correcting for geometric distortions due

to sensor-Earth geometry variations, and conversion of the data to real
world coordinates (e.g. latitude and longitude) on the Earth's surface.
Image enhancement
• Image enhancement, is to
improve the appearance of
the imagery to assist in
visual interpretation and
analysis.
• Examples of enhancement
functions include contrast
stretching to increase the
tonal distinction between
various features in a scene.
Image transformations
• Image transformations are
operations similar in concept to
those for image enhancement.
• However, unlike image
enhancement operations which are
normally applied only to a single
channel of data at a time, image
transformations usually involve
combined processing of data from
multiple spectral bands.
Image classification and analysis
• Image classification and analysis operations are used to digitally
identify and classify pixels in the data.
• Classification is usually performed on multi-channel data sets and this
process assigns each pixel in an image to a particular class or theme
based on statistical characteristics of the pixel brightness values.
• There are a variety of approaches taken to perform digital
classification.
• Here we will describe the two approaches which are used most often,
namely supervised and unsupervised classification.
Supervised vs Unsupervised Classification
• In a supervised classification, the • Unsupervised classification in
analyst identifies in the imagery essence reverses the supervised
homogeneous representative samples of classification process.
the different surface cover types
(information classes) of interest.
• Spectral classes are grouped first,
• These samples are referred to as based solely on the numerical
training areas. information in the data, and are then
• The selection of appropriate training matched by the analyst to information
areas is based on the analyst's classes (if possible).
familiarity with the geographical area
and their knowledge of the actual
surface cover types present in the
image.
Thanks