A comparison of change detection methods using multispectral scanner data

Change detection methods were investigated as a cooperative activity between the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, People's Republic of China. Subtraction of band 2, band 3, normalized difference vegetation index, and tasseled cap bands 1 and 2 data from two multispectral scanner images were tested using two sites in the United States and one in the People's Republic of China. A new statistical method also was tested. Band 2 subtraction gives the best results for detecting change from vegetative cover to urban development. The statistical method identifies areas that have changed and uses a fast classification algorithm to classify the original data of the changed areas by land cover type present for each image date.