Computer Recognition of Roads from Satellite Pictures

Abstract

A program which recognizes real roads, their intersections, and objects which are road-like is presented. Although the work has been strongly motivated by the real roads as they are seen from the ERTS satellite, the visual model of a road can be used for recognition of any road-like objects. This model is structured in such a way that it can handle real roads as well as rivers and streams as they are seen on satellite pictures, tracks in bubble chambers, and veins under the appropriate magnification.