*4.1. Dataset*

The primary product of Pléiades satellite images were used for performing experimental analysis of the proposed method. The Pléiades program, which was launched by CNES (the French space agency), is the optical Earth imaging component of French–Italian ORFEO (Optical and Radar Federated Earth Observation). The Pléiades constellation consists of two satellites with VHR optical sensors. The Pléiades 1A launched on 17.12.2011 and Pléiades 1B launched on 2.12.2012. Both of the satellites provide 0.5 m spatial resolution for the Pan sensor and 2 m for MS sensor with 20 km swath width and 12 bit radiometric resolution [44].

The dataset used in this research consists of three Pleiades image scenes, which cover different landscape characteristics (Table 3). The locations of scenes are provided in Figure 3. Ten different sub frames were selected from these image scenes, in order to evaluate the performance of Pan sharpening methods for varying landscape characteristics and seasonal conditions (Table 4).

**Figure 3.** The locations of the Pléiades image scenes overlaid on Google Earth©.

**Table 3.** The description of three datasets.




Four sub frames cover rural areas that contain forests with different types of trees with varying heights and barren roads between them, and mountains and agricultural fields. Three sub frames cover urban areas that include complex buildings, roads and highways. Finally, three sub frames cover sub-urban areas that include all the complex buildings, factories, vegetation, roads, trees and bare soil parts to perform a precise survey on effects of the proposed method in Pan sharpening of vegetation, impervious and soil surfaces simultaneously.
