Paper Info
Title
ESP: a tool to estimate scale parameter for multiresolution image segmentation of remotely sensed data
Abstract
The spatial resolution of imaging sensors has increased dramatically in recent years, and so too have the challenges associated with extracting meaningful information from their data products. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) is gaining rapid popularity in remote sensing science as a means of bridging very high spatial resolution (VHSR) imagery and GIS. Multiscalar image segmentation is a fundamental step in OBIA, yet there is currently no tool available to objectively guide the selection of appropriate scales for segmentation. We present a technique for estimating the scale parameter in image segmentation of remotely sensed data with Definiens Developer®. The degree of heterogeneity within an image-object is controlled by a subjective measure called the 'scale parameter', as implemented in the mentioned software. We propose a tool, called estimation of scale parameter (ESP), that builds on the idea of local variance (LV) of object heterogeneity within a scene. The ESP tool iteratively generates image-objects at multiple scale levels in a bottom-up approach and calculates the LV for each scale. Variation in heterogeneity is explored by evaluating LV plotted against the corresponding scale. The thresholds in rates of change of LV (ROC-LV) indicate the scale levels at which the image can be segmented in the most appropriate manner, relative to the data properties at the scene level. Our tests on different types of imagery indicated fast processing times and accurate results. The simple yet robust ESP tool enables fast and objective parametrization when performing image segmentation and holds great potential for OBIA applications.
Year
DOI
Venue
2010
10.1080/13658810903174803
International Journal of Geographical Information Science
Keywords
DocType
Volume
appropriate scale,esp tool iteratively,multiresolution image segmentation,corresponding scale,object-based image analysis,robust esp tool,multiscalar image segmentation,scale level,scale parameter,multiple scale level,image segmentation,tessellation,rate of change,spatial resolution,image sensor,bottom up,remote sensing
Journal
24
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
6
1365-8816
117
PageRank 
References 
Authors
9.67
3
3
Search Limit
100117
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Lucian Drǎguţ111810.41
Dirk Tiede221424.97
Shaun R. Levick312111.26