The Earth Trends Modeler

The Earth Trends Modeler is specially designed for the analysis of image time series from earth observing systems. It includes a coordinated suite of data mining tools for the extraction of trends and underlying determinants of variability, and will be of special importance to scientists focused on climate change and ecosystem dynamics.

Fig. 2 SEGMENTATION module creates an image of segments that have a spectral similarity across many input bands.

Fig. 3 SEGTRAIN assigns these segments to specific land cover types for the development of training site data.

Fig. 4 SEGCLASS classifies the imagery using a majority rule algorithm to assign each segment to a class. SEGCLASS can improve the accuracy of a pixel-based classification and produce a smoother map-like classification result while preserving the boundaries between the segments.

Segmentation

IDRISI Taiga provides three new modules for classification from image segments. Segmentation is a process by which pixels are grouped that share a homogeneous spectral similarity. Across space and overall input bands, a moving window assesses this similarity and segments are defined according to a stated similarity threshold. The three modules provide a sequence for segment-based classification. SEGMENTATION creates an image of segments. SEGTRAIN interactively develops training sites and signatures. SEGCLASS classifies the imagery utilizing a majority rule algorithm.

Land Change Modeler Enhancements

IDRISI's Land Change Modeler now includes an interface to MARXAN that facilitates its use. Given a number of potential reserve sites, MARXAN identified a portfolio of sites which meets a particular target.

The Land Change Modeler application also now includes a validation panel. A 3-way cross-tabulation can be run between the later land-cover map, the prediction map, and a map of reality in order to evaluate the result of a possible prediction outcome. Hits, misses and false alarms are reported.

Additionally, options to print and manipulate the graphs generated by Land Cover Modeler are now included.

Display Navigation Tools

Enhancements have been made to the pan and zoom in/zoom out functions. The stretch options on Composer have also been revised.

Other Features

IDRISI Taiga also includes an extension of the Multi-Layer Perception neural network classifier to support multiple regression applications, an ISODATA unsupervised classification procedure, and additional time series utilities.

A wide range of new import procedures have been added. Many of these are designed to support the varied earth observing system image time series. In addition, the Taiga Edition of IDRISI now supports the creation of KML layers, both as single layers and as pyramid structures for streaming over the Internet. Finally, an interface is provided to the open source GDAL raster translation software.