AN UNSUPERVISED CLASSIFICATION FOR FULLY POLARIMETRIC SAR DATA USING SPAN/H/α IHSL TRANSFORM AND THE FCM ALGORITHM

In this paper, the IHSL transform and the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) segmentation algorithm are combined together to perform the unsupervised classification for fully polarimetric Synthetic Ap-erture Rader (SAR) data. We apply the IHSL colour transform to H/α/SPANspace to obtain a new space (RGB colour space) which has a uniform distinguishability among inner parameters and contains the whole polarimetric information in H/α/SPAN.Then the FCM algorithm is applied to this RGB space to finish the classification procedure. The main advantages of this method are that the parameters in the color space have similar interclass distinguishability, thus it can achieve a high performance in the pixel based segmentation algorithm, and since we can treat the parameters in the same way, the segmentation procedure can be simplified. The experiments show that it can provide an improved classification result compared with the method which uses the H/α/SPANspace di-rectly during the segmentation procedure.     

基于小波变换和马尔可夫随机场的极化SAR图像自动分类

本文提出一种对极化合成孔径雷达(SAR)图像进行自动多分辨率分类的方法。首先利用多视极化白化滤波(MPWF)抑制极化SAR图像的相干斑,得到反映地物辐射特征的纹理SAR图像,然后利用小波变换(WT)提取不同分辨率的纹理信息,在最低分辨率级利用Akaik信息准则(AIC)自动估计图像中的纹理类数,进而在各个分辨率级利用马尔可夫随机场(MRF)模型表征各像素间的空间关联信息,并分别利用最大似然(ML)方法和循环条件模式(ICM)进行自动的模型参数估计和最大后验概率(MAP)分类,最后应用NASA/JPL机载L波段极化SAR数据验证了本文所提分类方法的有效性和优越性。     

An Unsupervised Classification for Fully Polarimetric SAR Data Using SPAN/H/ IHSL Transform and The FCM Algorithm

 In this paper, the IHSL transform and the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) segmentation algorithm are combined together to perform the unsupervised classification for fully polarimetric Synthetic Ap-erture Rader (SAR) data. We apply the IHSL colour transform to space to obtain a new space (RGB colour space) which has a uniform distinguishability among inner parameters and contains the whole polarimetric information in Then the FCM algorithm is applied to this RGB space to finish the classification procedure. The main advantages of this method are that the parameters in the color space have similar interclass distinguishability, thus it can achieve a high performance in the pixel based segmentation algorithm, and since we can treat the parameters in the same way, the segmentation procedure can be simplified. The experiments show that it can provide an improved classification result compared with the method which uses the space di-rectly during the segmentation procedure.     

多角度极化SAR图像散射特征分解及SVM分类

在极化合成孔径雷达（synthetic aperture radar,SAR）图像理解和解译中,地物分类是重要的应用方向之一.为了研究多角度极化SAR图像的地物分类,文中基于极化统计特征差异性顺序,给出了多角度极化分解特征序列构建方法.首先,采用基于Wishart分布的统计量对非各向同性散射中心进行检测,并逐像素生成基于散射特征差异的新序列图像.然后,面向多种极化特征分解模型,提出通用的多角度极化特征一阶差分序列描述方法及编码方法,包括Yamaguchi四分量分解、Krogager分解以及H/A/Alpha分解,得到多维特征参数序列.最后,通过两种方法对比后最终选用支持向量机（support vector machine,SVM）方法对特征序列进行分类.通过机载P波段极化SAR开展360°观测试验,验证了该方法的有效性,并展示出在地物分类方面的应用潜力.     

多视极化合成孔径雷达图象的分类和极化通道优化

本文提出一个新的最大似然(ML)分类算法对多视全极化合成孔径雷达(SAR)图象进行分类,给出了应用NASA/JPL机载L波段四视全极化SAR实测数据的试验结果,证明了新算法的有效性。此外,本文还将所提算法应用于部分的多视全极化SAR数据中,实现了地貌类型分类的极化通道优化。     

一种基于Freeman分解与散射熵的极化SAR图像迭代分类方法

该文提出了一种基于Freeman分解与散射熵的极化SAR图像迭代分类新方法.该方法首先通过Freeman分解提取3种散射机理成分的功率,同时通过H/分解提取地物的散射熵;再利用这4个表征地物特性的参数将极化SAR图像中的地物划分为9个初始类,最后使用Wishart分类器对初始类进行迭代分类得到最终的结果.该方法合理利用了地物的极化散射信息,能够取得较好的分类效果,同时运算量也比较小.实测极化SAR数据的实验结果验证了该方法的有效性.     

Study on speckle reduction in multi-look polarimetric SAR image

This paper studies the speckle reduction in multi-look polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image. A multi-look polarimetric whitening filtering (MPWF) method is presented and extended to form a fully polarimetric filter with multi-channel output. The paper also quantifies the speckle reduction amount achievable by the MPWF, and compares the MPWF with the span, weighting and power equalization methods. Experimental results with the NASA/JPL L-band 4-look polarimetric SAR data verify the effectiveness and superiority of the MPWF, and show that the MPWF is of great advantage for enhancing SAR image classification.     

多视极化SAR图象相干斑抑制的研究

本文研究多视极化合成孔径雷达(SAR)图象的相干斑抑制,提出多视极化白化滤波(MPWF)法,并进一步将它发展成具有多通道输出的全极化滤波器。本文还定量地分析了MPWF方法抑制相干斑的能力,并在理论上同全功率法、加权法和功率均衡法进行了比较。应用NASA/JPL机载L波段四视全极化SAR数据的试验结果验证了所提方法的有效性和优越性,也说明了MPWF处理能显著地提高SAR图象的分类精度。     

Application of neural networks for sea ice classification inpolarimetric SAR images

Several automatic methods have been developed to classify sea ice types from fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, and these techniques are generally grouped into supervised and unsupervised approaches. In previous work, supervised methods have been shown to yield higher accuracy than unsupervised techniques, but suffer from the need for human interaction to determine classes and training regions. In contrast, unsupervised methods determine classes automatically, but generally show limited ability to accurately divide terrain into natural classes. In this paper, a new classification technique is applied to determine sea ice types in polarimetric and multifrequency SAR images, utilizing an unsupervised neural network to provide automatic classification, and employing an iterative algorithm to improve the performance. The learning vector quantization (LVQ) is first applied to the unsupervised classification of SAR images, and the results are compared with those of a conventional technique, the migrating means method. Results show that LVQ outperforms the migrating means method, but performance is still poor. An iterative algorithm is then applied where the SAR image is reclassified using the maximum likelihood (ML) classifier. It is shown that this algorithm converges, and significantly improves classification accuracy. The new algorithm successfully identifies first-year and multiyear sea ice regions in the images at three frequencies. The results show that L- and P-band images have similar characteristics, while the C-band image is substantially different. Classification based on single features is also carried out using LVQ and the iterative ML method. It is found that the fully polarimetric classification provides a higher accuracy than those based on a single feature. The significance of multilook classification is demonstrated by comparing the results obtained using four-look and single-look classifications     

CLASSIFICATION OF MULTI-LOOK POLARIMETRIC SAR IMAGERY AND POLARIZATION CHANNEL OPTIMIZATION

In this paper, a new maximum likelihood (ML) classification algorithm is proposed to classify the multi-look polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Experimental results with the NASA/JPL airborne L-band polarimetric SAR data demonstrate the effectiveness of the new algorithm. Furthermore, when using the algorithm in the classifications with subsets of the multi-look polarimetric SAR data, the polarization-channel optimization for the terrain type classification is implemented.     

基于分类统计的PolInSAR植被高度最大似然估计

极化干涉SAR是一种集极化和干涉SAR优势于一体的新型遥感技术.结合两层植被随机体散射模型和极化分解技术,基于极化干涉SAR数据的概率分布统计特征,提出一种利用参数迭代求解预测模璎和测量值最小似然距离的植被高度反演方法.该方法克服了传统最大似然估计方法需已知地表散射特征参数的约束,减少了计算复杂性.最后通过极化干涉SAR仿真数据实验分析,文中算法相对于三阶段反演算法提高了植被高度估计的精度.验证了算法的有效性.     

A NEW UNSUPERVISED CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHM FOR POLARIMETRIC SAR IMAGES BASED ON FUZZY SET THEORY

In this letter, a new method is proposed for unsupervised classification of terrain types and man-made objects using POLarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar （POLSAR） data. This technique is a combination of the usage of polarimetric information of SAR images and the unsupervised classification method based on fuzzy set theory. Image quantization and image enhancement are used to preprocess the POLSAR data. Then the polarimetric information and Fuzzy C-Means （FCM） clustering algorithm are used to classify the preprocessed images. The advantages of this algorithm are the automated classification, its high classification accuracy, fast convergence and high stability. The effectiveness of this algorithm is demonstrated by experiments using SIR-C/X-SAR （Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar） data.     

Consideration of antenna gain and phase patterns for calibration ofpolarimetric SAR data

A general polarimetric model for orbital and Earth synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems that explicitly includes key radar architecture elements and is not dependent on the reciprocity assumption is developed. The model includes systems whose receiving configuration is independent of the transmitted polarization (one configuration), as well as systems with two distinct receiving configurations, depending on the commanded transmitted polarization (H or V). Parameters that are independent of target illumination angle and those with illumination angle dependence are considered separately, allowing calibration approaches which are valid for targets at different illumination angles. The calibration methods presented make use of the model linearity to provide tests for the radar model accuracy and for SAR data quality. X-band polarimetric SAR are used to validate the theory and illustrate the calibration approach. The extension of the model and calibration method to other radar systems is discussed     

SVM全极化SAR图像分类中的特征选择

本文将SVM用于全极化SAR图像分类,并提出一种新的应用于SVM分类的特征选择算法。该算法以支持向量个数作为特征评估准则,利用顺序前进法加入特征。基于NASA/JPL实验室AIRSAR系统的L波段荷兰Flevoland全极化数据的与RELIEF-F算法的对比实验表明,在特征个数更少(或相当)的情况下,本文特征选择算法能在更广泛的SVM参数取值范围内获得更高的分类精度。     

Initialization of Markov random field clustering of large remote sensing images

Markov random field (MRF) clustering, utilizing both spectral and spatial interpixel dependency information, often improves classification accuracy for remote sensing images, such as multichannel polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. However, it is heavily sensitive to initial conditions such as the choice of the number of clusters and their parameters. In this paper, an initialization scheme for MRF clustering approaches is suggested for remote sensing images. The proposed method derives suitable initial cluster parameters from a set of homogeneous regions, and estimates the number of clusters using the pseudolikelihood information criterion (PLIC). The method works best for an image consisting of many large homogeneous regions, such as agricultural crops areas. It is illustrated using a well-known polarimetric SAR image of Flevoland in the Netherlands. The experiment shows a superior performance compared to several other methods, such as fuzzy C-means and iterated conditional modes (ICM) clustering.     

基于H-α和改进C-均值的全极化SAR图像非监督分类

该文提出一种基于H-α和改进C-均值的全极化SAR图像非监督分类方法.该方法先按H-α对全极化SAR图像进行基于散射机理的分类,再将分类结果作为改进C-均值算法的初始类别划分,从而实现地物分类.迭代次数确定是C-均值动态聚类算法的关键,文中利用图像熵给出了一种新的迭代终止准则.与H-α方法相比,该文方法能在保留分类结果物理散射机理的同时,实现有效的地物分类.NASA/JPL实验室AIRSAR系统获取的L波段旧金山全极化SAR数据的实验结果验证了该文方法的有效性.     

A new clustering algorithm applicable to multispectral andpolarimetric SAR images

The authors applied a scale-space clustering algorithm to the classification of a multispectral and polarimetric SAR image of an agricultural site. After the initial polarimetric and radiometric calibration and noise cancellation, a 12-dimensional feature vector for each pixel was extracted from the scattering matrix. The clustering algorithm partitioned a set of unlabeled feature vectors from 13 selected sites, each site corresponding to a distinct crop, into 13 clusters without any supervision. The cluster parameters were then used to classify the whole image. The classification map is much less noisy and more accurate than those obtained by hierarchical rules. Starting with every point as a cluster, the algorithm works by melting the system to produce a tree of clusters in the scale space. It can cluster data in any multidimensional space and its insensitive to variability in cluster densities, sizes and ellipsoidal shapes. This algorithm, more powerful than existing ones, may be useful for remote sensing for land use     

CFAR edge detector for polarimetric SAR images

Finding the edges between different regions in an image is one of the fundamental steps of image analysis, and several edge detectors suitable for the special statistics of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) intensity images have previously been developed. In this paper, a new edge detector for polarimetric SAR images is presented using a newly developed test statistic in the complex Wishart distribution to test for equality of covariance matrices. The new edge detector can be applied to a wide range of SAR data from single-channel intensity data to multifrequency and/or multitemporal polarimetric SAR data. By simply changing the parameters characterizing the test statistic according to the applied SAR data, constant false-alarm rate detection is always obtained. An adaptive filtering scheme is presented, and the distributions of the detector are verified using simulated polarimetric SAR images. Using SAR data from the Danish airborne polarimetric SAR, EMISAR, it is demonstrated that superior edge detection results are obtained using polarimetric and/or multifrequency data compared to using only intensity data.     

基于去取向理论的全极化SAR图像模糊非监督聚类

由于复杂散射体的随机取向导致其回波具有一定的波动性,利用目标分解理论对全极化SAR图像进行分类时,分类结果会出现一定程度的错分现象.该文提出了一种新的非监督分类算法,该算法首先根据去取向理论,将目标向量旋转到最小交叉极化方向;然后,采用u/v/H参数描述散射机制,以模糊隶属函数代替参数平面的"硬"阈值划分;最后,以多元复Wishart分布描述相干矩阵,基于Bayes极大似然分类准则进行分类.以中国广东淡水附近的L波段NASA/JPL SIR-C全极化SAR图像作为实验数据进行了仿真试验,并进一步对聚类中心的迁移进行了讨论.试验和讨论结果表明:同基于H/(α)和类k-mean的算法比较,该文的聚类算法对聚类效果有明显改善,类别对应的散射机制也更为准确,分类结果有利于地表类型的自动识别.     

利用SVM的极化SAR图像特征选择与分类

该文提出一种新的利用SVM的特征选择算法,并将其融入到极化SAR图像分类过程中,构成一种新的基于SVM的分类方法.其中,特征选择算法利用支持向量个数作为特征评估指标,并以顺序后退法作为搜索策略.真实数据的实验结果表明,该分类方法能有效降低SVM分类器对自身参数的敏感性,与利用原始特征集和经典的RELIEF-F的分类方法相比,该方法能以更少(或相当)的特征个数,在更广泛的SVM参数取值范围内获得更高的分类精度.