The pixel: A snare and a delusion

Abstract

The pixel is an explicit feature of remotely-sensed imagery, and a primary concept of the raster GIS (Geographical Information System) which is the usual vehicle for integration. This Letter addresses the underlying spatial conceptualization of the pixel, which is the parallel of the grid cell in spatial analysis, and the regular grid in sampling. It is argued that integration of remote sensing and GIS can only possibly advance if we develop methods to address the conceptual short-comings of the pixel as a spatial entity, and stop pretending that it is a true geographical object. Three major strands of research which address this issue are highlighted, including mixture modelling, geostatistics and fuzzy classification.