Simple and effective cloud- and shadow-detection algorithms for Landsat and Worldview images

• DOI: 10.1007/s11760-019-01532-2
• Publication Date: 2019-07-25T17:02:37Z
• Authors: Chiman Kwan; Leif Hagen; Bryan Chou; Daniel Perez; Jiang Li; Yuzhong Shen; Krysztof Koperski
• Keywords: 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology

Many conventional cloud- and shadow-detection algorithms require meta-data such as sun angle and date of image collection. Moreover, detection results can vary a lot in actual images. We present simple and effective algorithms that do not require meta-data for detecting clouds and shadows in Landsat and Worldview images. Comparison with existing state-of-the-art algorithms, including a deep learning-based algorithm as well as a commercial algorithm, using actual satellite images, shows that the simple algorithms have comparable or even better performance than existing algorithms.