Object-based Image Analysis System Research Articles

OBJECT-BASED ANALYSIS FOR URBAN LAND COVER MAPPING USING THE INTERIMAGE AND THE SIPINA FREE SOFTWARE PACKAGES

Abstract: In this work we introduce an object-based method, applied to urban land cover mapping. The method is implemented with two open-source tools: SIPINA, a data mining software package; and InterIMAGE, an object-based image analysis system. Initially, segmentation, feature extraction and sample selection procedures are performed with InterIMAGE. In order to reduce the time and subjectivity involved to develop the decision rules in InterIMAGE, a data mining step is then carried out with SIPINA. In sequence, the decision trees delivered by SIPINA are analysed and encoded into InterIMAGE decision rules for the final classification step. Experiments were conducted using a subset of a GeoEye image, acquired in January 01, 2013, covering the urban portion of the municipality of Goianésia, Brazil. Five decision tree induction algorithms, available in SIPINA, were tested: ID3, C45, GID3, Assistant86 and CHAID. The TAU and Kappa coefficients were used to evaluate the results. The TAU values obtained were in the range of 0.66 and 0.70, while those for Kappa varied from 0.65 to 0.69.

Technical design and system implementation of region-line primitive association framework

Apart from regions, image edge lines are an important information source, and they deserve more attention in object-based image analysis (OBIA) than they currently receive. In the region-line primitive association framework (RLPAF), we promote straight-edge lines as line primitives to achieve powerful OBIAs. Along with regions, straight lines become basic units for subsequent extraction and analysis of OBIA features. This study develops a new software system called remote-sensing knowledge finder (RSFinder) to implement RLPAF for engineering application purposes. This paper introduces the extended technical framework, a comprehensively designed feature set, key technology, and software implementation. To our knowledge, RSFinder is the world’s first OBIA system based on two types of primitives, namely, regions and lines. It is fundamentally different from other well-known region-only-based OBIA systems, such as eCogntion and ENVI feature extraction module. This paper has important reference values for the development of similarly structured OBIA systems and line-involved extraction algorithms of remote sensing information.

Regular Shape Similarity Index: A Novel Index for Accurate Extraction of Regular Objects From Remote Sensing Images

It still remains a big challenge to accurately identify the geospatial objects with well-regulated outlines within remote sensing (RS) images such as residential buildings, factory storage buildings, highways, local roads, cars, and planes. In this paper, a novel spatial feature index, which is named regular shape similarity index (RSSI), is defined to address the challenge. It represents the ratio between the area of an object and its minimum bounding shape area. The application of RSSI in identifying objects with different shapes is discussed, and its capability is found to be a great supplement to the existing spatial feature hierarchy. An approach combining RSSI with object-based image analysis (OBIA) technology is proposed for image object extraction. A Web service for RSSI calculation is developed and integrated into a Web OBIA system. In the system, four experiments extracting factory storage buildings, residential buildings, roads, and planes, respectively, are conducted on three large-scale high-resolution RS images. In each experiment, two tests, i.e., one using traditional spatial features and the other using RSSI, are performed and compared. The results show that RSSI improves the accuracy of regular object extraction.

OBIA System for Identifying Mesoscale Oceanic Structures in SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua Images

The ocean covers over 70% of the surface of our planet and plays a key role in the global climate. Most ocean circulation is mesoscale (scales of 50–500 km and 10–100 days), and the energy in mesoscale circulation is at least one order of magnitude greater than general circulation; therefore, the study of mesoscale oceanic structures (MOS) is crucial to ocean dynamics, making it especially useful for analyzing global changes. The detection of MOS, such as upwellings or eddies, from satellites images is significant for marine environmental studies and coastal resource management. In this paper, we present an object-based image analysis (OBIA) system which segments and classifies regions contained in sea-viewing field-of-view sensor (SeaWiFS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS)-Aqua sensor satellite images into MOS. After color clustering and hierarchical data format (HDF) file processing, the OBIA system segments images and extracts image descriptors, producing primary regions. Then, it merges regions, recalculating image descriptors for MOS identification and definition. First, regions are labeled by a human-expert, who identifies MOS: upwellings, eddies, cool, and warm eddies. Labeled regions are then classified by learning algorithms (i.e., decision tree, Bayesian network, artificial neural network, genetic algorithm, and near neighbor algorithm ) from selected features. Finally, the OBIA system enables images to be queried from the user interface and retrieved by means of fuzzy descriptors and oceanic structures. We tested our system with images from the Canary Islands and the North West African coast.