Object oriented and multi-scale image analysis: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats - A review

Abstract

Problem Statement: In many cases it would be helpful to include already existing data with the GIS for interpretation of remote sensing data. Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA) is a technology for image analysis which addresses exactly those problems hampering a successful bridging of Remote Sensing and GIS. In order to provide potential strategies to meet the proposed objective, a tentative SWOT Analysis is undertaken to identify current Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats that OBIA faces. Approach: Two different areas had been chosen for testing. The results of pixel based and polygon-based classification has been compared. Results: The classified image derived from polygon based classification is closer to human visual Interpretation. Finally, it is understood that using the e-cognition technique, the weaknesses and threats that OBIA originally suffered are minimized to a great extent. Conclusions: Pixel based classification uses the pure spectral information only. Beyond the pure spectral information, OBIA uses local context information also. This often essential information can be used together with form and texture features of image objects to improve classification significantly. © 2008 Science Publications.