Satellite

Image
interpretation

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INTRODUCTION
● Satellite imagery is a picture of the earth surface taken from a satellite in
space.

● Satellite Image interpretation involves visually identifying features on the

satellite image correctly as it is physically on the ground.

● It is important for Enumerators and other Census functionaries to have a

basic knowledge of how to recognize features represented on the Satellite
imagery, which is the backdrop to the Census map

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES

1. Colour or Tone :
❖ Old buildings with rusty corrugated roofs will have dull brownish color
while newly constructed buildings with new roofs will have brighter color
depending on the roof type.

❖ New excavations will have a bright appearance etc. Tarred roads will have
Grey color and Vegetation green. Swampy areas with overgrown
Vegetation will have a darker greenish color etc.

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES contd..

Old Roof

Tared Road

Foot path

New Roof

Imagery showing Color or Tone Interpretation

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES contd..

2. Shape:
❖ Tarred roads appear with straight edges while footpaths and un-tarred roads have
rough edges.
❖ All features will have their overview shape on the Satellite image. E.g: a house
with a courtyard, a Swimming pool, a school building arrangement and a
Stadium. This can easily be recognized by their appearance on the Satellite
Imagery.
❖ Natural features such as Forest, streams & Rivers, Hamlet’s boundaries will
have irregular edges/shapes while man made features such as Buildings, Roads,
Cultivated Lands, Stadium, Swimming pool, etc. have regular edges/shapes.

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES contd..

Swimming pool

Tarred Road

Imagery showing Shape Interpretation

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES contd..

3. Association:
❖ An identified feature can help to interpret other naturally
associated features. E.g., the presence of a hub of vehicles
points to a Motor or Car Park.
❖ Presence of boats in the imagery gives an idea of a harbor. A
road crossing a river means there is a bridge.
❖ A wide playground with organized buildings depicts a school

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES contd..

School

School bus stop

Residential Houses

A complex

Imagery showing Shape Interpretation

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BASIC IMAGERY INTERPRETATION PRINCIPLES contd..

4. Size:
❖ Size of objects in an image is a function of scale. It is important to assess
the size of a target relative to other objects in a scene, as well as the
absolute size, to aid in the interpretation of that target.
❖ A quick approximation of target size can direct interpretation to an
appropriate result more quickly. For example, if an interpreter had to
distinguish an estate, and had identified an area with a number of buildings
in it, large buildings such as factories or warehouses would suggest
commercial property, whereas small buildings would indicate residential
use.

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CONCLUSION

Understanding satellite imagery interpretation will play a key

role in ensuring that building houselisting and Enumeration is
carried out correctly

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PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1) What are the 4 basic imagery interpretation principles?

1) A wide playground with organized buildings on the imagery

depicts what type of facility?

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Thank you