On the use of prior and posterior information in the subpixel proportion problem

Although the problems of classification and subpixel proportion estimation in remote sensing land cover characterization generally are held to be distinct (though related), often elements of the former are adopted in addressing the latter that blur this distinction - particularly, regarding the use of prior and posterior information. The author examines this issue in more detail, using simple, canonical versions of the two problems and, in the course of this examination, provides analytical expressions upon which to build discussion of improvements to subpixel proportion estimation from a statistical viewpoint.