Fusion of hyperspectral and radar data using the IHS transformation to enhance urban surface features

Abstract The Intensity–Hue–Saturation (IHS) transformation is used to integrate the high spectral resolution, provided by hyperspectral data (Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, AVIRIS), and the surface texture information, derived from radar data (Topographic Synthetic Aperture Radar, TOPSAR), into a single image of an urban area. This transformed image is superimposed on the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data derived from TOPSAR data to create a 3D perspective view. The ambiguity of several urban land cover types is resolved to a larger degree using the higher spectral and spatial resolutions and the synergistic visual content provided by the fused image in a 3D perspective. For urban areas that are at risk from geological hazards (e.g., avalanches, mudflows, and debris flows), the fused image provides a cost-effective product, rich in the information necessary for assessment and mitigation of these hazards.