General Discussion

Abstract

The participants to the COMPARES workshop were asked to consider and reflect upon a set of key questions which relate to the future use of neurocomputing in remote sensing. These questions were as follows:

• i. Why use neural networks in the analysis and interpretation of remote sensing data ? Do they really offer advantages ? Are they really special ?

• ii. Classification has been the main application to date but has an impasse been reached ?

• iii. what this book tries not to do

• iv. Is it possible or necessary to build a “pan-European-classifier” based on a giant modular neural network ?

• v. Is special purpose hardware needed to operationally exploit neural networks in remote sensing ?

• vi. Should new/less common network models/architectures be explored ?

• vii. Are there any novel applications of neural networks in remote sensing ?

• viii. What future level of investment on R&D on neural networks in remote sensing is justified ?