Object-based image analysis for remote sensing applications: modeling reality – dealing with complexity

The advancement of feature recognition and advanced image analysis techniques facilitates the extraction of thematic information, for policy making support and informed decisions. As a strong driver, the availability of VHSR data and the ever increasing use of geo-information for all kinds of spatially relevant management issues have catalyzed the development of new methods to exploit image information more ‘intelligently’. This chapter highlights some of the recent developments from both technology and policy and poses a synthetic view on an upcoming paradigm in image analysis and the extraction of geo-spatial information. It starts from a review of requirements from international initiatives like GMES (Global Monitoring of Environment and Security), followed by a discussion the possible answers from OBIA including a detailed portrait of the methodological framework of class modeling. The chapter closes with a short reflection on the required adaptation of standard methods of accuracy assessment and change detection, as well as on the evaluation of delineated and classified objects against the ultimate benchmark, our human perception.