8.1
General Steps Required
to Perform Change Dectection
John R. Jensen
Steven R. Schill
Department of Geography
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Direct Comments to: jrjensen@sc.edu
 

Introduction

A major role that remote sensing and GIS techniques serve is to inventory and monitor biophysical and man-made features on the surface of the Earth. While some of the data may be static and does not change over time, much of the biophysical and man-made features are dynamic and constantly changing. It is important that such changes be inventoried accurately so that the physical and human processes at work can be more fully understood (Estes, 1992; Jensen and Narumalani, 1992). In recent years there has been a significant amount of research put forth in the development of change detection methods using remotely sensed data. This module addresses the general steps required to perform digital change detection. Considerations involving remote sensing systems and environmental factors and how change detection information is extracted and analyzed will be discussed.

The general steps required to perform digital change detection are summarized in Figure 8-1.1. After an appropriate Land Use/Land Cover classification system has been selected, the land cover classes of interest can be identified and used in the change detection database.

Figure 8-1.1 
General Steps Required to 
Perform Digital Change Detection
 

 

Digital Change Detection - Par Pond, South Carolina

 
Raw Image Bands 3, 2, 1 
May 10, 1993		  
Masked Image Bands 3, 2, 1 
March 14, 1992		  
Masked Image Bands 3, 2, 1 
April 2, 1994
 

Classified Imagery

 
Classified Image 
May 5, 1992		  
Classified Image 
May 10, 1993		  
Classified Image 
April 2, 1994
 
Classified Image 
October 13, 1992		  
Classified Image 
October 28, 1993		  
Classified Image 
October 25, 1994
 

Change Detection Classification
 
Change Detection 
March 1992 - October 1992		  
Change Detection 
March 1992 - May 1993		  
Change Detection 
May 1992 - May 1993
 
Change Detection 
March 1992 - April 1994		  
Change Detection 
May 1993 - April 1994		  
Change Detection 
October 1993 - April 1994
 
Change Detection 
October 1992 - October 1993		  
Change Detection 
October 1993 - October 1994		  
Change Detection 
October 1992 - October 1994
 
 

 


Go to Section 8.2 - Major Change Detection Algorithms

Back to Module 8 Main Page

References

Estes, J. E., 1992, "Technology and Policy Issues Impact Global Monitoring, " GIS World, 5(10):52-55.

Jensen, J. R., 1996, Introductory Digital Image Processing: A remote sensing perspective, 2nd Edition. NJ: Prentice-Hall, pp. 257-277.

Jensen, J. R., S. Narumalani, 1992, "Improved Remote Sensing and GIS Reliability Diagrams, Image Genealogy Diagrams, and Thematic Map Legends to Enhance Communication, " International Archives of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing, 6(B6):125-132.