Preliminary Results of Superresolution-Enhanced Angular Hyperspectral (CHRIS/Proba) Images for Land-Cover Classification

Superresolution (SR) image reconstruction is a technique to obtain a high-resolution (HR) image from a set of low-resolution images. Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS)/Project for On-Board Autonomy (Proba) is a transitional hyperspectral-oriented satellite which acquires multiple angular images of the same scene. The angular images acquired within a very short period of time are ideal for SR operation. Recent developments point to the possibility of a SR-enhanced CHRIS data set at higher resolution. Apparently, the additional details are valuable information for many applications. This letter presents the preliminary evaluation of the SR CHRIS images for ecotope mapping and subpixel classification of sealed surface using two different scenes in Belgium. Accuracy obtained from SR CHRIS images is comparable to that of the original CHRIS, but with significantly more detail in the final classification map. In view of the demands for HR hyperspectral data sets, SR operation can be an interesting option to mitigate the lower spatial resolution of the current and future spaceborne hyperspectral images. Properties such as quick revisiting time and angular acquisition of a hyperspectral satellite are important for the success of SR operations.