Change detection techniques for remote sensing applications: a survey

Change detection captures the spatial changes from multi temporal satellite images due to manmade or natural phenomenon. It is of great importance in remote sensing, monitoring environmental changes and land use -land cover change detection. Remote sensing satellites acquire satellite images at varying resolutions and use these for change detection. This paper briefly analyses various change detection methods and the challenges and issues faced as part of change detection. Over the years, a wide range of methods have been developed for analyzing remote sensing data and newer methods are still being developed. Timely and accurate change detection of Earth's surface features provides the basis for evaluating the relationships and interactions between human and natural phenomena for the better management of resources. In general, change detection applies multi-temporal datasets to quantitatively analyse the temporal effects of the phenomenon. As such, this study attempts to provide a comprehensive review of the fundamental processes required for change detection. The study also gives a brief account of the main techniques of change detection and discusses the need for development of enhanced change detection methods.