Analysis of Various NASA Satellite Images through the Techniques of Image Morphing

摘要

Image morphing is a technique that implements linear algebra (geometric and algebraic transformation techniques) to transform one point in a plane to the other. We analyze images through image morphing techniques to predict changes that had happened through time and also what might happen in the future. The purpose of this particular research is to observe the changes of different NASA satellite images, describe the observations, and hypothesize the possible causes of the phenomena observed in the morph. This is performed by using two satellite images. These images were taken at two different intervals of time, morph the images and observed the gradual changes of the objects. The selected pictures did not have additional documentation (for example, images between a selected interval of time) available to compare so morph was used to analyze the transition. How accurate are all these morphing techniques? The accuracy of the transformation is analyzed by taking pictures of a blooming flower and documents all the phases between the blooms. Then, the morphing technique is implemented towards the first and last picture to compare the changes previously observed in the morph. This experiment was conducted to predict the uncertainty of the transformation. Image morphing techniques are important because when satellites document images of an object at a certain time, it may take a while for another picture to be documented again. By then, many things could have changed and the purpose is to investigate how such changes occurred. The morph is an accurate approximation to the actual changes of the objects and a very useful tool to use when it is impossible to take consecutive pictures of a constantly changing place or object. Furthermore, this technique can help to discover patterns of the objects and enable scientists to hypothesize future changes. A morphing software named, Morph Age, was used to morph the pictures.