Pan-sharpening is a technique being used to merge a geometric detail of a highresolution
panchromatic image (PAN) with the color information of a low-resolution
multispectral image (MS) for generating a high-spatial resolution MS image (Zhang,
2004). This technique combines a higher spatial details of a high spatial resolution
panchromatic image with a high spectral resolution multispectral image for creating a
high spatial and high spectral resolution image (Stathaki, 2008).
In remote sensing application, both high spatial and high spectral resolutions
are often required to achieve more spatial-details and more accurate information
acquisition. Effective fusion of PAN and MS image is required to improve ability of
information extraction (Zhang, 2008).
Unfortunately, there is little information based on experimental results and
scientific research for selecting and applying an appropriate pan-sharpening method to
Thaichote image. Even though Intajag, Wettayaprasit, and Kodchabudthada (2010)
had evaluated some fusion methods for Thaichote image with traditional spectral
quality indices but their results did not reflect to the specific application. Therefore an
effective analysis and comprehensive evaluation of pan-sharpening methods from
Thaichote image is needed. Furthermore, a proper pan-sharpening method which
responding to users’ requirement is here assessed based on the user-oriented approach
to meet the needs on specific applications, namely agriculture, forestry, and urban.
The derived results including (1) visual image analysis, (2) edge detection analysis,
(3) quality indices, and (4) effect on classification accuracy are to fulfill the users’
requirement for developing and implementing an optimum pan-sharpening method
from Thaichote image to serve their duties.