Performance Evaluation of Pansharpening Algorithms for WorldView-3 Satellite Imagery

Abstract

Worldview-3 satellite sensor provides panchromatic image with high-spatial resolution and 8-band multispectral images. Therefore, an image-sharpening technique, which sharpens the spatial resolution of multispectral images by using high-spatial resolution panchromatic images, is essential for various applications of Worldview-3 images based on image interpretation and processing. The existing pansharpening algorithms tend to tradeoff between spectral distortion and spatial enhancement. In this study, we applied six pansharpening algorithms to Worldview-3 satellite imagery and assessed the quality of pansharpened images qualitatively and quantitatively. We also analyzed the effects of time lag for each multispectral band during the pansharpening process. Quantitative assessment of pansharpened images was performed by comparing ERGAS (Erreur Relative Globale Adimensionnelle de Synthese), SAM (Spectral Angle Mapper), Q-index and sCC (spatial Correlation Coefficient) based on real data set. In experiment, quantitative results obtained by MRA (Multi-Resolution Analysis)-based algorithm were better than those by the CS (Component Substitution)-based algorithm. Nevertheless, qualitative quality of spectral information was similar to each other. In addition, images obtained by the CS-based algorithm and by division of two multispectral sensors were shaper in terms of spatial quality than those obtained by the other pansharpening algorithm. Therefore, there is a need to determine a pansharpening method for Worldview-3 images for application to remote sensing data, such as spectral and spatial information-based applications.