Resolution enhancement of thermal infrared images via high resolution class-map and statistical methods

Remote sensing from long stand-off distances offers numerous advantages. As our ability to extract information from data has increased, so has the need for high spatial resolution. Such results are often not available due to technological or financial limitations on the detectors which scan the scene and produce the imagery. Therefore, for many years to come, spatial resolution enhancement using additional data from a variety of sources shall remain popular and cost-effective. Work has been on-going at the Rochester Institute of Technology\u27s Center for Imaging Science in the spatial resolution enhancement of thermal infrared imagery. Background thermal imaging theory is presented and the most recent work by the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing group is reviewed. A literature search of materials published on the topic since 1985 is included: numerous methods and techniques are presented. Based upon these concepts several areas of study were carried out. All investigations undertaken were confined to cases that ensure radiometric fidelity across image processing operations, since derivation of accurate temperature or emissivity maps necessitate this requirement. Given a low spatial resolution thermal band, these methods produced a high resolution estimate thereof based on enhancement using: (1) a single panchromatic band, (2) a high resolution class-map derived from multi-spectral bands and (3) a statistically based combination of multi-spectral bands