Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA)

Overview

Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) is a method of analyzing remote sensing imagery that segments images into meaningful objects or regions based on spectral, spatial, and contextual information, often used for land cover classification and change detection in GIS.

Key Concepts

Segmentation groups pixels into homogeneous regions (objects). Classification assigns classes to objects based on attributes. Scale parameter controls the size of segmented objects. Shape vs. color balances spectral and geometric criteria in segmentation. Contextual features include relationships between neighboring objects. Hierarchy allows multi-scale analysis with parent-child object relationships.

OBIA vs. Pixel-Based

AspectOBIAPixel-Based
UnitObjects/segmentsIndividual pixels
FeaturesShape, texture, contextSpectral values only
NoiseReduced (smoothed)Salt-and-pepper
EdgesBetter preservedJagged
ProcessingMore complexSimpler

Appendix

Created: 2025-12-13 | Modified: 2025-12-13

See Also