REGISTRATION OF REMOTE SENSING IMAGES BASED ON FEATURE FUSION TECHNIQUES

Geometric correction is used to correct the registration errors in remotely sensed images. These images are often compared to ground control points (GCPs) either by using an accurate map (image to map) or using another geo-referenced image (image to image) and then resampled. Accordingly, the exact locations and the appropriate pixel values can be calculated in more accurate, time-wise and effortless manner. In the traditional methods, the GCPs are manually selected and then the transformation models are applied which yield time consuming and less accurate processes. The objective of this work is to develop an automatic approach for image registration based on another geo-referenced image using five feature extraction models. They are Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF), Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT), (SIFT & DWT), and (SURF & DWT). The GCPs were selected based on the least-squares adjustments as the basis for improving the spatial accuracy of all the linking points in both images. The obtained results showed that models have higher accuracy in image registration with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) less than 0.5. The developed automated image registration method provides more accurate results and saves time, money and effort.