Benefits of fusion of high spatial and spectral resolutions images for urban mapping

This communication presents a method allowing the combination of high spatial and spectral resolution images to improve the mapping of urban area. It makes use of two mathematical tools, the wavelet transform and the multiresolution analysis which are shortly introduced. This method, called ARSIS is then described. A qualitative comparison between a classical merging technique and the ARSIS method is presented through an example, the merging of SPOT XS images and the russian sensor KVR-1000. Then, the process used for urban mapping is explained and a map of a district in Riyadh, enhancing the roads and the buildings is presented.