The Utility of Very High Spatial Resolution Images to Identify Urban Objects

Abstract

With the diversity of new digital geographic information products and in particular the near future Very High Spatial Resolution images (1 to 5m), an evaluation of the capacity of these new data source is necessary in the framework of urban studies. This article aims at assessing the utility of VHSR sensors to provide reliable and useful information for the end‐users (city councils, urban community, county) in urban planning, monitoring and management. The capacity of this new source of information to answer to the end‐users needs have to be investigated. In fact, which type of end‐users must these resolution satisfy, what are the potential applications of these images, what are the characteristics of the information required and finally what type of extraction methods are efficient?

An analysis of the capacities of these new sensor to extract urban objects have been carried out for different resolutions and with several extraction methods. This analysis allows on the one hand to define a “Minimal” and a “Functional” spatial resolution able to satisfy the needs of the end‐users, and on the other hand to determine if this future sensors would provide additional capabilities to study the urban environment.