Evolving spatio-spectral feature extraction algorithms for hyperspectral imagery

Hyperspectral imagery data sets present an interesting challenge to feature extraction algorithm developers. Beyond the immediate problem of dealing with the sheer amount of spectral information per pixel in a hyperspectral image, the remote sensing scientist must explore a complex algorithm space in which both spatial and spectral signatures may be required to identify a feature of interest. Rather than carry out this algorithm exploration by hand, We are interested in developing learning systems that can evolve-these algorithms. We describe a genetic programming/supervised classifier software system, called GENIE, which evolves image processing tools for remotely sensed imagery. Our primary application has been land-cover classification from satellite imagery. GENIE was developed to evolve classification algorithms for multispectral imagery, and the extension to hyperspectral imagery presents a chance to test a genetic programming system by greatly increasing the complexity of the data under analysis, as well as a chance to find interesting spatio-spectral algorithms for hyperspectral imagery. We, demonstrate our system on publicly available imagery from the new Hyperion imaging spectrometer onboard the NASA Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite.