Water body extraction based on the LBV transformation analysis for China GF-1 multi-spectral images

For the surface water body extraction from China GF-1 satellite multi-spectral images, this paper proposes a algorithm based on the LBV transformation analysis method. The LBV transformed images can be used more effectively for the analysis of ground features than the original multispectral satellite images. So in the proposed method, the LBV transformation equations for GF-1 images are firstly discussed. Then, by analyzing gray level curves of six typical ground features in L(the general radiance level), B(the visible-infrared radiation) and V(the band radiance variation vector) images respectively, a decision criterion for extracting water body is obtain. And by this decision criterion the water bodies can be quickly and accurately extracted in the complex scenes. The experimental results show that this algorithm can effectively eliminate roads and the shadows of the buildings and cloud on the influence of the water body extraction and can exactly extract the small ponds, lakes and reservoirs. In addition, the proposed algorithm is simple, automatic and highly adaptable.