RESEARCH ARTICLE
Comparison of Remote Sensing Image Fusion Strategies Adopted
in HSV and IHS
Xiaoliang Zhu
1,2
•
Wenxing Bao
1
Received: 8 January 2016 / Accepted: 8 June 2017
Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2017
Abstract It has been always a challenging task to keep an
ideal balance of spectral and spatial resolution for merging
panchromatic image and multispectral image. The mathe-
matical theories such as color space transformation and
Wavelet Packet Analysis are usually employed in information
fusion area. Combining color space conversion with wavelet
packet theory is a way of researching remote sensing image
fusion algorithms further. In the paper, there are three existing
image fusion strategies applied to the second layer of fre-
quency bands decomposed by wavelet packet analysis in the
HSV and the IHS (triangular coordinate) color space,
respectively. Serial experiments demonstrate two core con-
cepts. One is the effects of image fusion strategies based on
region is super to those of fusion strategy based on pixel for the
same color space; the other is the different performances are
measured in the two color spaces. Specially, the space defi-
nition for image fused in the former color space is inferior to
that in the latter color space; while the spectrum content for
image fused in the former color space retains better than in the
latter color space, when using the same fusion strategy in the
two color space.As a result, application containing HSV space
conversion can alleviate spectral deterioration,whereas fusion
operation of IHS transformation can lift spatial definition.
Keywords Image fusion Hue saturation value (HSV)
Intensity hue saturation (IHS) Wavelet packet analysis
(WPA) Three fusion strategies
Introduction
With the multi-sensor system spreading quickly in the past
time, information fusion has been gradually being one of
the system in which the multi-sensor technology can be
used in different aspects, especially for satellite image
fusion. There exists a typical rem ote sensing image fusion
model between the multispectral image and the panchro-
matic one. The former, abbreviated to MS, has multiple
spectrum channels at a lower spatial resolution represent-
ing functional characteristics. The latter, abbreviated to
PAN, has single wavelength at a higher spatial resolution
providing structural contents. Usually, a MS image for a
certain purpose owns three wave bands which indicate the
equivalent of red, green and blue, namely pseudo color.
Because of low spatial resolution, it is inevitable that a MS
image loses a lot of small details. The same scene PAN
image with high spatial resolution can remedy the loss.
Therefore, it is a necessity merging MS image and PAN
image from the same data source into the high-quality
composition (Pajares and Cruz 2004; Yang and Li 2012;
Simone et al. 2002; Bao and Wang 2011).
How to merge remote sensing images between MS and
PAN is not an unfamiliar topic, but still a challenge for
scholars. For decades a large number of researchers have
tried to exploit relevant theory and technique to study the
theme. Some sophisticated approaches based on pixel level
often include frequency domain transformation or space
domain transformation. Multi-sc ale (i.e. Multi-resolution)
theory represents frequency domain transformation,
& Wenxing Bao
bwx71@163.com
Xiaoliang Zhu
Zhuxiaoliang3721@163.com
1
School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beifang
University of Nationalities, No.204 Wenchang, North-Street,
Xixia District, Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
2
School of Mathematics and Statistics, Ningxia University,
No.217 Wencui, North-Street, Xixia District,
Yinchuan 750021, Ningxia, China
123
J Indian Soc Remote Sens
DOI 10.1007/s12524-017-0695-5