3 research outputs found
Use of TanDEM-X and Sentinel Products to Derive Gully Activity Maps in Kunene Region (Namibia) Based on Automatic Iterative Random Forest Approach
Gullies are landforms with specific patterns of shape,
topography, hydrology, vegetation, and soil characteristics. Remote
sensing products (TanDEM-X, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2) serve
as inputs into an iterative algorithm, initialized using a micromapping simulation as training data, to map gullies in the northwestern of Namibia. A Random Forest Classifier examines pixels
with similar characteristics in a pool of unlabeled data, and gully
objects are detected where high densities of gully pixels are enclosed
by an alpha shape. Gully objects are used in subsequent iterations
following a mechanism where the algorithm uses the most reliable
pixels as gully training samples. The gully class continuously grows
until an optimal scenario in terms of accuracy is achieved. Results
are benchmarked with manually tagged gullies (initial gully labeled
area <0.3% of the total study area) in two different watersheds
(408 and 302 km2, respectively) yielding total accuracies of >98%,
with 60% in the gully class, Cohen Kappa >0.5, Matthews Correlation Coefficient >0.5, and receiver operating characteristic
Area Under the Curve >0.89. Hence, our method outlines gullies
keeping low false-positive rates while the classification quality has
a good balance for the two classes (gully/no gully). Results show
the most significant gully descriptors as the high temporal radar
signal coherence (22.4%) and the low temporal variability in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (21.8%). This research builds
on previous studies to face the challenge of identifying and outlining
gully-affected areas with a shortage of training data using global
datasets, which are then transferable to other large (semi-) arid
regions.This research is part of the DEM_HYDR2024 project sup ported by TanDEM-X Science Team, therefore the authors
would like to express thanks to the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR) as the donor for the used TanDEM-X
datasets. They acknowledge the financial support provided by
the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)
within the IRPC research funding programme and to ILMI for
the sponsorship of field trips to identify suitable study areas.
Finally, they would like to express gratitude toward Heidelberg
University and the Kurt-Hiehle-Foundation for facilitating the
suitable work conditions during this research
Building Footprint Extraction from LiDAR Data and Imagery Information
This study presents an automatic method for regularisation of building outlines. Initially, building segments are extracted using a new fusion method. Data- and model-driven approaches are then combined to generate approximate building polygons. The core part of the method includes a novel data-driven algorithm based on likelihood equation derived from the geometrical properties of a building. Finally, the Gauss-Helmert and Gauss-Markov models adjustment are implemented and modified for regularisation of building outlines considering orthogonality constraints