The potential of very high resolution space imagery in the production of base maps for Urban Area : a case study North-Western of Amman city

Abstract EN

The use of imagery from high-resolution sensors has proved that data can provide viable alternative techniques to aerial photographs for maps / large scale maps productions and many other applications.

This is especially in the case of remote areas, which has been poorly mapped in the past.

The benefit of satellite imagery includes the rapid acquisition of data covering large areas, and the frequent re-visit time up to 1 to 4 days.

In this study, three commercial very high resolution satellite imagery SPOT5 (2.5m resolution) supermode, IKONOS (1m resolution) pan-sharpened, and Quick Bird (0.61 cm resolution) pan-sharpened were used to produce large scale maps for the same area in the North- Western part of Amman city.

On Screen Digitizing method has been utilized to digitize major urban features using GIS Arc / View system.

Image interpretation and analysis showed that (IKONOS and Quick Bird) images have high potential for representing the selected urban features.

The spatial resolution of these two images is found sufficient to clearly identify all classes of roads and the general shape of build up areas.

The limitation to accurately digitize the streets was the shadow cast by high building structure.

Roads are also clearly identified on SPOT5 image except narrow streets.

Another limitation was that individual urban structures were not as clearly recognized as separate structures by this image.

Therefore, these structures were digitized as separate blocks.

Finally, there is no doubt about the usefulness of high resolution of satellite image data for large scale mapping, it seems also that satellite remote sensing data will replace aerial photography in most cartographic applications.