Merging multispectral and pancromatic bands of Landsat using cokriging

Remote sensing data and imagery is used in countless applications, but their analysis and interpretation highly depends on the spatial and spectral resolution. Fusion has been defined as the process of combining relevant image(s) information in order to synthesize it into more informative and more suitable image(s) for visual perception or computer processing, particularly for interpretation or classification. Building upon these objectives, this study explores the application of ordinary cokriging and collocated cokriging to improve the spatial resolution of the multispectral bands from a Landsat ETM+ image based on its corresponding panchromatic image. The study region, located in the central part of Colombia, has different land uses and covers such as water, forest, crop and urban areas. The geostatistical methods allowed for the fusion of the Landsat's original bands into 'fused bands', which improved the visualization and characterization of the study area. The collocated cokriging results were slightly less satisfactory than those of ordinary cokriging, possibly because of the land cover heterogeneity of the region. The results indicate that the fused bands obtained through this generally available technique can provide valuable information in digital processing of Landsat images, such as land use and land cover classification.