Image classification and image resolution issues for DOQQ analysis

High-resolution imagery is becoming readily available to the public. Private firms and government organizations are using high-resolution images but are running into problems with storage space and processing time. High-resolution images are extremely large files, and have proven cumbersome to work with and control. By resampling fine resolution imagery to a lower resolution, storage and processing space can be dramatically reduced. Fine-resolution imagery is not needed to map most features and resampled high-resolution imagery can be used as a replacement for low-resolution satellite imagery in some cases. The effects of resampling on the spectral quality of a high-resolution image can be demonstrated by answering the following questions: (1) Is the quality of spectral information on a color infrared DOQQ comparable to SPOT and TM Landsat satellite imagery for the purpose of digital image classification? (2) What is the appropriate resolution for mapping surface features using high-resolution imagery for spectral categories of information? (3) What is the appropriate resolution for mapping surface features using high-resolution imagery for land-use land-cover information?