Effects of JPEG2000 lossy compression on remote sensing image classification for mapping natural areas
Alaitz Zabala, Xavier Pons, Joan Masó, Fernando García, Francesc Aulí-Llinàs, Joan S. Serra-Sagrista · Annual Conference on Computers · 2005
This study measures the effect of lossy image compression on the digital classification of forest areas. A mixed classification method comprising satellite images and topoclimatic variables for mapping vegetation land cover was used. The results contribute interesting new data about the influence of compression on the quality of the cartography produced, both from a by pixel perspective and also regarding the homogeneity of the polygons obtained. The area classified in classifications only carried out with radiometric variables increases as image compression increases, although the increase is smaller for JPEG2000 formats, especially in fragmented areas. On the other hand, the area classified decreases in classifications which also take into account topoclimatic variables. Overall image accuracy diminishes at high compression levels, although the point of inflection occurs in different places depending on the compression format (highest accuracy for JPEG and fragmented images occurs at lower compression levels). As a rule, the JPEG2000 format gives better results both quantitatively (accuracy and area classified) and visually (images with less salt and pepper effect).