Least-Squares-Based Deep Learning for Sentinel-2 Derived Bathymetry

A Case Study on Anegada's Southern Coast

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

Y. Liu (TU Delft - Operations & Environment)

A. Amiri Simkooei (TU Delft - Operations & Environment)

R.C. Lindenbergh (TU Delft - Optical and Laser Remote Sensing)

M. Snellen (TU Delft - Control & Operations)

Operations & Environment
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-Archives-XLVIII-2-W10-2025-169-2025
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Operations & Environment
Issue number
2/W10-2025
Volume number
48
Pages (from-to)
169-176
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Abstract

Satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) provides a cost-effective solution for coastal mapping, but challenges remain in model interpretability and uncertainty quantification. This study investigates the applicability of the least-squares-based deep learning (LSBDL) framework for SDB, leveraging its hybrid structure that integrates neural networks with the available least-squares theory to enhance model transparency. ICESat-2 photon-counting LiDAR was used to train depth estimation from Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery over an approximately 30 km × 30 km region of near-coastal bathymetry at Anegada, British Virgin Islands. ICESat-2 provided high-precision depth information, of which 80% were used for training and the remainder for validation. LBSDL depth estimation achieved a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 2.74 m, representing around 10% of the maximum observed depth, with the best performance in the 2–15 m depth range. These findings demonstrate the potential of LSBDL for interpretable and reliable bathymetric mapping, highlighting ICESat-2 as a globally accessible training and validation source and advancing SDB capabilities for data-sparse coastal regions.