CE-419 : Principles of Remote

Sensing

Lecture –16: Correction of Geometric distortion and Visual

image interpretation
Text Books:1) Richards and Jia,
Remote sensing Digital image analysis, Springer
2) George Joseph, “Fundamental of Remote Sensing”

Subashisa Dutta
Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Guwahati 1
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 Visual interpretation

Data ( spectral ) = Information ( land use and land

cover)
Colour Composition

Prime colour : Blue, Green and Red

Gray Colour ( Black and White) : Single band

Pseudocolour : Single band ( colour assigned)

Prime colour
True colour : Three band composition
RS band colour
Blue band : blue
green band : green
Red band : red

False Colour Composite(FCC)

NIR band : red
Red band : Green
Gray colour
Green band : Blue
False Colour
LULC map
Composition

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 Natural Colour False Colour Composite

Natural colour is generated using the primary colours – Blue, Green and
Red. The green vegetation appears green. The false colour composite
image uses Green, Red and Near Infrared bands as blue, green and red
colour respectively. Here vegetation appears in different hues of red.
 Elements of Image Interpretation

 Shape - refers to the general outline of objects. Regular geometric

shapes are usually indicators of human presence and use. Some
objects can be identified almost solely on the basis of their shapes: for
example - the Pentagon Building, (American) football fields, cloverleaf
highway interchanges
 Size - The size of objects must be considered in the context of the
scale of a photograph. The scale will help you determine if an object is
a stock pond or Lake Minnetonka.
 Tone - Tone refers to the relative brightness or color of elements on a
photograph. It is, perhaps, the most basic of the interpretive elements
because without tonal differences none of the other elements could be
discerned.
 Texture - The impression of "smoothness" or "roughness" of image
features is caused by the frequency of change of tone in photographs.
It is produced by a set of features too small to identify individually.
Grass, cement, and water generally appear "smooth", while a forest
canopy may appear "rough".
 Elements of Image Interpretation

 Shadow - Shadows aid interpreters in determining the height of objects

in aerial photographs. However, they also obscure objects lying within
them.
 Site - refers to topographic or geographic location. This characteristic
of photographs is especially important in identifying vegetation types
and landforms. For example, large circular depressions in the ground
are readily identified as sinkholes in central Florida, where the bedrock
consists of limestone.
 Association - Some objects are always found in association with other
objects. The context of an object can provide insight into what it is. For
instance, a nuclear power plant is not (generally) going to be found in
the midst of single-family housing.
 Pattern - (spatial arrangement) -- The patterns formed by objects in a
photo can be diagnostic. Consider the difference between (1) the
random pattern formed by an unmanaged area of trees and (2) the
evenly spaced rows formed by an orchard.
Elements of Image Interpretation
 Elements of Image Interpretation

Site
Shape Size Tone

Pattern
Association
Texture Shadow
Tone is a measure of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation
reflected (emitted) by the objects

4 1: Vegetation(HVG)
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2: Water bodies
3. Sand
4. Deep water
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3 5. Fallow (soil)
Texture is the frequency of tonal changes on an image

1: smooth ( early paddy

2. Coarse ( Potato)
3 3. Coarse ( late paddy)

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 Shape and Size

1: Major Reservoir 2: Fishing pond and 3: Small check dams

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 Pattern : Spatial arrangement of objects
1: township 2: Fallow field 3: Village

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3

Association
4: sand (high reflectance), 5: paddy (GW) and 6: paddy (CW)
Shadow: Clouds
 FLOW CHART OF VISUAL INTERPRETATION
Collateral data
Objective of Selection of RS data
study SOI toposheet
Thematic maps
Field data Generation of
enhanced product Aerial data
Knowledge of the
area

Photo interpretation Preliminary Base map

key interpretation

Identify doubtful
areas
Field verification

Interpretation modification Accuracy

Check
Final Evaluation
Mapping
Area calculation
 Image Interpretation Keys

 The image interpretation depends on the

interpretation keys which an experienced interpreter
has established from prior knowledge and the study
of the current images.

 The eight interpretation elements (shape, size, tone,

texture, shadow, site, association and pattern), as
well as the time the photograph is taken, season,
film type and photo-scale should be carefully
considered when developing interpretation keys.
Keys usually include both a written and image
component.
Image Interpretation Keys
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End of Today lecture and have a nice day !

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