A process model for remote sensing data analysis

Remote sensing data is collected and analyzed to enhance understanding of the terrestrial surface– in composition, in form or in function. One approach to accomplishing this is by designing the analysis process as an iterated composite of several analyst-directed modules. This paper proposes such a modular design for the data analysis. The proposed methodology was applied in a project to obtain the thematic map for a flightline over Washington D.C. with very satisfactory results– the qualification being in both the visual and the statistical sense. The project execution is presented as a case study in this paper. Index Terms -methodology, masking, segmentation, digital elevation map, human-computer interaction, holistic solution, hyperspectral data classification.