The generation and interpretation of false-colour composite principal component images

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Abstract
The presentation of multichannel image information in terms of a false-colour composite can, in general, be achieved with less sacrifice of data if the three leading principal component images are used rather than the three conventional raw channels A hardwired electronic system which has been developed is described in outline; it implements principal components analysis on 256 x 256 four-channel array of pixels in a few seconds. The system is under the control of an APPLE II microcomputer, and can generate colour hard-copy output in the form of composites of the principal component images The use of this system is illustrated by reference to a LANDSAT MSS subframe of southern Spain. A standard false-colour composite of this scene contains 73 per cent of the available image variance whereas the principal component composite contains 98 per cent. The necessity of contrast stretching the minor principal component images in order to generate a visually effective colour composite is demonstrated. Some consideration is given to the choice of the most appropriate colour coding in the principal component composite images.

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