A Comparison of Urban Mapping Methods Using High-Resolution Digital Imagery

Authors

Nancy Thomas
Chad Hendrix
Russell G. Congalton, University of New HampshireFollow

Abstract

Recent advances in digital airborne sensors and satellite platforms make spatially accurate, high-resolution multispectral imagery readily available. High-resolution imagery is particularly well suited to urban applications. This article provides an overview of a project in which one-meter digital imagery was used to produce a map of pervious and impervious surfaces to be used by the city of Scottsdale, Arizona for storm-water runoff estimation. The authors assess the accuracy of three different methods for extracting land-cover/land-use information from high-resolution imagery of urban environments: (1) combined supervised/ unsupervised spectral classification, (2) raster-based spatial modeling, and (3) image segmentation classification using classification tree analysis. The authors conclude that the image segmentation classification incorporating classification tree analysis as described in this study offers a significant time saving over the analyst-intensive spatial modeling technique by automatically integrating image segment measures.

Department

Natural Resources and the Environment

Publication Date

9-1-2003

Journal Title

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing

Publisher

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.14358/PERS.69.9.963

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Thomas, N., C. Hendrix, and R. Congalton. 2003. A comparison of urban mapping methods using high-resolution digital imagery. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 69, No. 9. pp. 963-972.

Rights

© 2003 American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing