| This study compares five change detection techniques to study land cover change associated with the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada, one of the fastest growing areas in the U.S. The data used were three MSS images covering a twenty year period (1972, 1986 and 1992), and one TM image from 1993. The change detection methods used were red band image differencing, principle component analysis, post-classification comparison, change vector analysis, and multi-temporal compositing and classification. Each change detection method was applied to pairs of Landsat MultiSpectral Scanner (MSS) images and a pair of MSS and Thematic Mapper (TM) images. Image normalization for the change vector analysis and image differencing was carried out using a pseudoinvariant feature approach.;It was assumed that detecting changes using data from a single sensor type would be preferable to an analysis based on two or more different sensors. However, this study showed that change detection using a combination of TM and MSS produced results comparable to those using only MSS data. It was also found that each of the five methods had their own strengths and weaknesses. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
