A new approach in remote sensing image analysis for natural environment cartography

With numerical data from Earth survey satellites, it is possible to build a cartographic outline with computer analysis. The proposed approach first consists in computing a classified image (directed or semi-directed). Then this image is interactively treated with “Papri” software, which gives an ordering in landscape units, and a new image close to a map. The creation of the cartographic result occurs after vectorization, i.e. transformation of matrix coordinates into a “vector” format. In this format, small polygons and arcs not corresponding to natural units boundaries, are suppressed. The final document is more satisfactory, and is comparable with a map. The operation may be renewed inside big landscape units in order to improve the cartography, in a general-to-particular approach. Results are compared to a visual interpretation of the image