Pan-sharpening

Pan-sharpening (panchromatic sharpening) is an image processing technique that fuses two complementary satellite image products: a high-spatial-resolution panchromatic (grayscale) band and lower-resolution multispectral (color) bands. The result is a multispectral image at the spatial resolutionSpatial ResolutionSpatial resolution defines the size of the smallest feature or ground area that can be distinguished in a spatial dat... of the panchromatic band, offering both the fine detail needed for visual interpretation and the spectral information required for quantitative analysis. Common algorithmsPopular pan-sharpening methods include Intensity-Hue-Saturation (IHS), Brovey Transform, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Gram-Schmidt, and wavelet-based fusion. Each method balances spatial enhancement against spectral fidelity differently. Modern approaches such as deep-learning-based fusion aim to minimize spectral distortion while maximizing spatial sharpness. ApplicationsPan-sharpened imagery is widely used in urban mapping, infrastructure monitoring, defense and intelligence, and environmental assessment where both high spatial detail and spectral information are needed. Satellites like Landsat, WorldView, and Pléiades routinely provide panchromatic and multispectral band pairs designed for fusion. Pan-sharpening is an essential tool for maximizing the utility of satellite imagerySatellite ImagerySatellite imagery consists of photographs and data captured by Earth observation satellites orbiting the planet. Thes.... By combining spatial and spectral strengths, it delivers imagery that supports both visual analysis and automated classification at the finest available resolution.