A novel binary tree support vector machine for hyperspectral remote sensing image classification

According to the principle of support vector machine (SVM) and the inter-class separability rule of hyperspectral data, a novel binary tree SVM classifier based on separability measure among different classes is proposed for hyperspectral image classification. J–M distance is used to measure the separability in order to generate the binary tree automatically. By experiments using airborne operational modular imaging spectrometer II (OMIS II) data, satellite EO-1 Hyperion hyperspectral data and airborne AVIRIS data, the classification accuracy of different multi-class SVMs is obtained and compared. Experimental results indicate that the proposed adaptive binary tree classifier outperforms other existing multi-class SVM strategies. Use of the adaptive binary tree SVM classifier is a novel approach to improve the accuracy of hyperspectral image classification and expand the possibilities for interpretation and application of hyperspectral remote sensing image.

► A novel binary tree SVM classifier is proposed for hyperspectral image classification.
► J-M distance is introduced into SVM to measure the classes' separability.
► The proposed binary tree classifier outperforms other existing classification strategies.