Integration of Multi-spectral Remote Sensing Images and GIS Thematic Data for Supervised Land Cover Classification

Nowadays, interests in land cover classification using not only multi-sensor images but also thematic GIS information are increasing. Often, although useful GIS information for the classification is available, the traditional MLE (maximum likelihood estimation techniques) does not allow us to use the information, due to the fact that it cannot handle the GIS data properly. This paper propose two extended MLE algorithms that can integrate both remote sensing images and GIS thematic data for land-cover classification. They include modified MLE and Bayesian predictive likelihood estimation technique (BPLE) techniques that can handle both categorical GIS thematic data and remote sensing images in an integrated manner. The proposed algorithms were evaluated through supervised land-cover classification with Landsat ETM+ images and an existing land-use map in the Gongju area, Korea. As a result, the proposed method showed considerable improvements in classification accuracy, when compared with other multi-spectral classification techniques. The integration of remote sensing images and the land-use map showed that overall accuracy indicated an improvement in classification accuracy of 10.8% when using MLE, and 9.6% for the BPLE. The case study also showed that the proposed algorithms enable the extraction of the area with land-cover change. In conclusion, land cover classification results produced through the integration of various GIS spatial data and multi-spectral images, will be useful to involve complementary data to make more accurate decisions.