CNNs for satellite images and object detection
In this section, we demonstrate how to solve key computer vision tasks such as image classification and object detection. As mentioned in the introduction and in Chapter 3, Alternative Data for Finance – Categories and Use Cases, image data can inform a trading strategy by providing clues about future trends, changing fundamentals, or specific events relevant to a target asset class or investment universe. Popular examples include exploiting satellite images for clues about the supply of agricultural commodities, consumer and economic activity, or the status of manufacturing or raw material supply chains. Specific tasks might include the following, for example:
- Image classification: Identifying whether cultivated land for certain crops is expanding, or predicting harvest quality and quantities
- Object detection: Counting the number of oil tankers on a certain transport route or the number of cars in a parking lot...