Gradients in urban material composition: A new concept to map cities with spaceborne imaging spectroscopy data

Jilge M, Heiden U, Neumann C, Feilhauer H (2019)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Book Volume: 223

Pages Range: 179-193

DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2019.01.007

Abstract

To understand processes in urban environments, such as urban energy fluxes or surface temperature patterns, it is important to map urban surface materials. Airborne imaging spectroscopy data have been successfully used to identify urban surface materials mainly based on unmixing algorithms. Upcoming spaceborne Imaging Spectrometers (IS), such as the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP), will reduce the time and cost-critical limitations of airborne systems for Earth Observation (EO). However, the spatial resolution of all operated and planned IS in space will not be higher than 20 to 30 m and, thus, the detection of pure Endmember (EM) candidates in urban areas, a requirement for spectral unmixing, is very limited. Gradient analysis could be an alternative method for retrieving urban surface material compositions in pixels from spaceborne IS. The gradient concept is well known in ecology to identify plant species assemblages formed by similar environmental conditions but has never been tested for urban materials. However, urban areas also contain neighbourhoods with similar physical, compositional and structural characteristics. Based on this assumption, this study investigated (1) whether cover fractions of surface materials change gradually in urban areas and (2) whether these gradients can be adequately mapped and interpreted using imaging spectroscopy data (e.g. EnMAP) with 30 m spatial resolution.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

How to cite

APA:

Jilge, M., Heiden, U., Neumann, C., & Feilhauer, H. (2019). Gradients in urban material composition: A new concept to map cities with spaceborne imaging spectroscopy data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 223, 179-193. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.01.007

MLA:

Jilge, Marianne, et al. "Gradients in urban material composition: A new concept to map cities with spaceborne imaging spectroscopy data." Remote Sensing of Environment 223 (2019): 179-193.

BibTeX: Download