Assessing the accuracy of high spatial resolution image data and derived products

The authors examine accuracy assessment issues for high resolution multispectral image products from theoretical and empirical perspectives. The general advantage of having greater certainty when assessing locational and attribute accuracy for high resolution image data is offset by the requirement for high precision and more expensive ground reference data. Kinematic Global Positioning System (KGPS) surveys provide highly precise ground reference data, as is demonstrated in this paper. The locational and attribute accuracy of orthorectified image, thematic classification, biophysical map, and land cover change products derived from a commercial airborne multispectral digital camera system was found to be high, particularly in the context of specific coastal wetland monitoring objectives