Analysis

We conduct extensive analysis in line with the clients needs and we do so using our GIS skills, experience and knowledge of complex environments.

Geographic Information Systems is the collection, display and analysis of geographic data.  Whatever the source of that data, be it commercial or open source, how it's analysed is the key to delivering accurate results.

Alcis people use a variety of data analysis techniques and technology:

Geospatial Programming
Alcis has designed its own geospatial programmes that speed up the processing of complex data. The workflow is planned, modelled and able to deliver fully customisable results to our clients.

Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA)
We call this new approach: 'common sense analysis'. Traditionally, the pixels that make up an image are analysed by the colour of the light they reflect back to remote sensors such as satellites. But this takes no account of the context in which the pixels are positioned.

Every feature on the earth's surface has a 'location/spatial component', independently or relative to other features. Alcis analysts are combining this location component with other attributes (population, migration patterns, terrain accessibility), allowing us to build a very comprehensive picture of how features relate to each other on the earth's surface.

For example, the shadow cast by a building is processed by OBIA to be the building's shadow, because the programme considers many more attributes on the basis of proximity, texture, shape or spectral signature*, to name but a few; rather than just their colour.

Hyperspectral Imagery Analysis (HIA)
Satellite images typically record between 4-8 bands of light. This is just a fraction of the 200+ bands that exist in the Electro Magnetic Spectrum EMS*. All objects reflect within a certain region of the EMS so the more bands we can capture the more information we can analyse.

HIA offers Alcis analysts many advantages. For example: plants have different levels and types of chlorophyll with different 'reflectance' properties. We can match these to databases to tell you not just that wheat is growing in a field, but which variety of wheat it is.

*Wikipedia explanation of the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)