Spectral mapping capabilities of sedimentary rocks using hyperspectral data in Sicily, Italy

Geologic applications of remote sensing data often rely on ancillary and support information for effectively mapping geolithologies. This work aims to investigate the capabilities of mapping geologic outcrops of sedimentary rocks using only spectral information coming from aerial hyperspectral data. MI VIS hyperspectral data obtained in the area of Serra di Falco, in southern Italy, have been exploited for testing and comparing geologic maps resulting from 4 different spectral supervised algorithms (SVM, SAM, SID, MAXLIKE) in combination with 4 different methods of selecting the training sample for feeding the classifiers, and making use of various ancillary data (ground surveys, geological map) only as reference information for evaluation the results. Geologic mapping results comparison shows the pros and cons of spectral classification in a complex sedimentary geology context.