Assessing tropical cyclone impacts using object-based moderate spatial resolution image analysis: a case study in Bangladesh Muhammad Al-Amin Hoque a,b , Stuart Phinn a , Chris Roelfsema a and Iraphne Childs c a Remote Sensing Research Centre, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; b Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; c Queensland Centre for Population Research, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia ABSTRACT The environmental and societal impacts of tropical cyclones could be reduced using a range of management initiatives. Remote sensing can be a cost effective, accurate, and potential tool for mapping the multiple impacts caused by tropical cyclones using high-to-moderate spatial resolution (5–30 m) satellite imagery to provide data on the following essential parameters – evacuation, relief, and management of natural resources. This study developed and evaluated an approach for assessing the impacts of tropical cyclones through object-based image analysis and moderate spa- tial resolution imagery. Pre- and post-cyclone maps of artificial and natural features are required for assessing the overall impacts in the landscape that could be acquired by mapping specific land cover types. We used the object-based approach to map land- cover types in pre- and post-cyclone Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) 5 image data and the post-classification com- parison technique to identify changes in the particular features in the landscape. Cyclone Sidr (2007) was used to test the applic- ability of this approach in Sarankhola Upazila in Bangladesh. The object-based approach provided accurate results for classifying features from pre- and post-cyclone satellite images with an over- all accuracy of 95.43% and 93.27%, respectively. Mapped changes identified the extent, type, and form of cyclone induced impacts. Our results indicate that 63.15% of the study area was significantly affected by cyclone Sidr. The majority of mapped damage was found in vegetation, cropped lands, settlements, and infrastruc- ture. The damage results were verified through the high spatial resolution satellite imagery, reports and pictures that were taken after the cyclone. The methods developed may be used in future to assess the multiple impacts caused by tropical cyclones in Bangladesh and other similar environments for the purposes of tropical cyclone disaster management. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 18 February 2016 Accepted 15 September 2016 CONTACT Muhammad Al-Amin Hoque m.hoque2@uq.edu.au Remote Sensing Research Centre, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING, 2016 VOL. 37, NO. 22, 5320–5343 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2016.1239286 © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group