S B GOWTHAMI

172RS019

7. UNSUPERVISED CLASSIFICATION

AIM: To perform Unsupervised Classification of a Multispectral Image.

SOFTWARE: ERDAS IMAGINE
THEORY: Unsupervised classification is a classification method which examines a large
number of unknown pixels and divides into a number of clusters based on natural groupings
present in the image values. Unlike supervised classification, unsupervised classification does
not require analyst-specified training data. The user manually identifies each cluster with land
cover classes.
PROCEDURE:
 Display the image called in a viewer as Fit to Frame.

 Click on the Raster tab –> Classification –> Unsupervised button –> Unsupervised
Classification
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172RS019

 This will bring up the Unsupervised Classification (ISODATA) dialog box. For the
input raster field navigate to ‘1.img’. For the Output Cluster field navigate to the
folder where you want the output saved and give it the name ‘uc.img. Enter 15 for the
number of classes.

 After the processing is complete, open up the classified file ‘uc.img’.

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172RS019

 In the Table of Contents right click on the classified image and then Display Attribute
Table. Change the respective color of classes by visual inspection of the map. Save
and close attribute table.

 Recode the classes into more general categories. Give New Value and then
click Change Selected Rows.
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172RS019

 The recoded image is as shown below.

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172RS019

RESULT:

CONCLUSION:
 Unsupervised classification categorizes continuous raster data into discrete thematic
groups having similar spectral-radiometric values.
 Thematic recoding is performed to combine the unsupervised classes
 The Unsupervised Classification provides an enhanced option for increasing the speed
of processing.