Global and Local Assessment of Image Classification Quality on an Overall and Per-Class Basis without Ground Reference Data

Ground reference data are typically required to evaluate the quality of a supervised image classification analysis used to produce a thematic map from remotely sensed data. Acquiring a suitable ground data set for a rigorous assessment of classification quality can be a major challenge. An alternative approach to quality assessment is to use a model-based method such as can be achieved with a latent class analysis. Previous research has shown that the latter can provide estimates of class areal extent for a non-site specific accuracy assessment and yield estimates of producer’s accuracy which are commonly used in site-specific accuracy assessment. Here, the potential for quality assessment via a latent class analysis is extended to show that an estimate of a complete confusion matrix can be predicted which allows a suite of standard accuracy measures to be generated to indicate global quality on an overall and per-class basis. In addition, information on classification uncertainty may be used to illustrate classification quality on a per-pixel basis and hence provide local information to highlight spatial variations in classification quality. Classifications of imagery from airborne and satellite-borne sensors were used to illustrate the potential of the latent class analysis with results compared against those arising from the use of a conventional ground data set.