Updating road databases using change detection techniques

The Traffic and Transport Advisory Service (AVV) at RWS supplies information on traffic and infrastructure on land and water. The information which is stored in the National Road Databases (NWB) therefore to be updated regulary. For this purpose remote sensing images are very useful due to their synoptic overview, high update frequency and relative low costs. With help of change detection techniques remote sensing images of different years are processed into change detection images showing the changes that appeared in the meantime. Different change detection techniques are available and are evaluated in this project. After processing the images into change detection products the NWB can be updated by comparing the change detection images and topographic maps with the existing NWB. For this purpose a GIS-based system is developed. This report describes the results of a validation study on the usefulness of change detection products from PHARUS, ERS [European Remote Sensing Satellites] and SPOT imagery for road extraction and the implementation of the results in a GIS-based system.