Accuracy assessment model for classification result of remote sensing image based on spatial sampling

The classification accuracy of a remote sensing image should be assessed before the classification result is used for scientific investigation and policy decision. We proposed an accuracy assessment model based on spatial sampling to reflect region sensitivity of a remote sensing image. The proposed model aims to solve the following problems: (1) what sampling size should be selected for accuracy assessment; (2) where sample points should be distributed in a region; and (3) how to analyze the result of accuracy assessment. This assessment model was proposed based on gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and considered both sampling size calculation and sample points distribution during the assessment. The overall accuracy and kappa coefficient derived from this model were very close to the true value derived from the total assessment, suggesting that the assessment accuracy of the model is close to that of total assessment. Compared with the percent sampling model, the model could quantify the relationship between GLCM-correlation parameter and sample size, thereby allowing producer and user to determine sample size according to spatial uniformity and heterogeneity. Compared with the random sampling model, the model could ensure that the sample points are uniformly distributed in the spatial region and proportionally distributed in different types of land cover. Taken together, the proposed model is suitable for the accuracy assessment of the classification result of a remote sensing image. (C) The Authors.