MultiSpec 10.1.09

MultiSpec 10.1.09 is regarded as a useful processing system which is designed to help users analyze Earth observational multispectral image data such as that produced by the Landsat series of Earth satellites and hyperspectral image data from current and future airborne and spaceborne systems such as AVIRIS.

The primary objective of MultiSpec is as an aid to export the results of the research into devising good methods for analyzing such hyperspectral image data. It has also found significant use in other applications such as multiband medical imagery and in K-12 and university level educational activities.

Major Features:

1. Import data in either Binary or ASCII format with or without a header, and in Band Interleaved by Line (BIL), Band Sequential (BSQ), or Band Interleaved by Sample (BIS) formats. The data values may be 8-bit integer, 16-bit integer, 32-bit integer, 32-bit real or 64-bit real. In cases of two, four or eight bytes per sample, the bytes may be in either order.
2. Display multispectral images in a variety of B/W or color formats using linear or equal area gray scales; display (internally generated) thematic images also in B/W or color, with an ability to control the color used for each theme. ArcView Shape Files may be overlain on the images.
3. Histogram data for use in determining the gray scale regime for a display or for listing and graphing.
4. Reformat the data file in a number of ways, e.g., by adding a standard header, changing from any one of the three interleave formats to either of the other two, editing out channels, combining files, adding or modifying channel descriptions, mosaicing data sets, changing the geometry of a data set, and a number of other changes.
5. Create new channels of data from existing channels. The new channels may be the result of a principal components or feature extraction transformation of the existing ones, or they may result from the ratio of a linear combination of existing bands divided by a different linear combination of bands.
6. Cluster data using either a single pass or an iterative (isodata) clustering algorithm. Save the results for display as a thematic map. Cluster statistics can also be saved as class statistics. Use of clustering followed by ECHO spectral/spatial classification provides an effective multivariate scene segmentation scheme.
7. Define classes via designating rectangular or polygonal training fields or mask image files, compute field and class statistics, and define test fields for use in evaluating classification results quantitatively. A feature called "Enhance Statistics" also allows one to improve the extent to which the defined class statistics fit the composite of all data in the data set. A covariance estimation scheme (LOOC) can optimize that estimate for small training sets.
8. Determine the best spectral features to use for a given classification using (a) searching for the best subset of features using any of five statistical distance measures, (b) a method based directly upon decision boundaries defined by training samples, or (c) a second method based directly upon the discriminant functions. Also included are methods especially designed to search for narrow spectral features such as spectroscopic characteristics, and for use of projection pursuit as a means of further improving the features extracted.
9. Classify a designated area in the data file. Six different classification algorithms are available: use of minimum distance to means, correlation classifier (SAM), matched filter (CEM), Fisher linear discriminant, the Gaussian maximum likelihood pixel scheme, or the ECHO spectral/spatial classifier. Save the results for display as a thematic map, with or without training and test fields being shown. Apply a threshold to a classification, and generate a probability/threshold map showing the degree of membership of each pixel to the class to which it was assigned.
10. List classification results of training or test areas in tabular form on a per field, per class, or groups of classes basis.
11. Show a graph of the spectral values of a currently selected pixel or the mean ± s for a selected area. Show scatter diagrams of data from pairs of bands and ellipses of concentration for training sets and selected areas. Show a graph of the histograms of the class or field data values used for training. Show the coordinates of a currently selected area.
12. Show a color presentation of the correlation matrix for a field or class as a visualization tool especially for hyperspectral data.
13. Several additional utility functions including listing out a subset of the data e.g., for use externally, conducting principal component analysis, etc.
14. Transfer intermediate or final results, be they text, B/W image or color image, to other application programs such as word processors, spreadsheet, or graphics program by copying and pasting or by saving and then opening the saved file within another application.