Coastline extraction from SAR images using spatial fuzzy clustering and the active contour method

Coastline extraction from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is difficult because of the presence of speckle noise and strong signal returns from the wind-roughened and wave-modulated sea surface. High resolution and weather change independent of SAR data lead to better monitoring of coastal sea. Therefore, SAR coastline extraction has taken up much interest. The active contour method is an efficient algorithm for the edge detection task; however, applying this method to high-resolution images is time-consuming. The current article presents an efficient approach to extracting coastlines from high-resolution SAR images. First, fuzzy clustering with spatial constraints is applied to the input SAR image. This clustering method is robust for noise and shows good performance with noisy images. Next, binarization is carried out using Otsu’s method on the fuzzification results. Third, morphological filters are used on the binary image to eliminate spurious segments after binarization. To extract the coastline, an active contour level set method is used on the initial contours and is applied to the input SAR image to refine the segmentation. Because the proposed approach is based on an active contour model, it does not require preprocessing for SAR speckle reduction. Another advantage of the proposed method is the ability to extract the coastline at full resolution of the input SAR image without degrading the resolution. The proposed approach does not require manual initialization for the level set method and the proposed initialization speeds up the level set evolution. Experimental results on low- and high-resolution SAR images showed good performance for coastline extraction. A criterion based on neighbourhood pixels for the coastline is proposed for the quantitative expression of the accuracy of the method.     

改进的基于非局部均值的极化SAR相干斑抑制

贝叶斯形式的非局部均值模型在极化SAR图像相干斑抑制中有良好的应用,在实现抑制相干斑的同时较好地保持了边缘细节和点目标.通过分析合成孔径雷达(SAR)图像多视数据的空间统计分布,结合贝叶斯形式的非局部均值模型,得出在该模型下多视与单视SAR图像中像素间相似性度量函数一致性的结论,并对该相似性度量函数进行了修正,使之满足对称性;最后针对算法全局使用一个固定滤波参数影响滤波效果的问题,提出一种根据像素间相似程度自适应选取滤波参数的方法.实验结果验证了本文算法的有效性.     

极化SAR相干斑抑制的非局部加权最小均方误差滤波算法

目的 相干斑的存在严重影响了极化合成孔径雷达(PolSAR)的影像质量.对相干斑的抑制是使用SAR数据的必不可少的预处理程序.提出一种基于非局部加权的线性最小均方误差(LMMSE)滤波器的极化SAR滤波的方法.方法 该方法的主要过程是利用非局部均值的理论来获取LMMSE估计器中像素样本的权重.同时,在样本像素的选取过程中,利用待处理像素的极化散射特性和邻域块的异质性来排除不相似像素以加速算法,同时达到保持点目标和自适应调节块窗口大小的目的.结果 模拟影像和真实影像上进行的实验结果表明,采用这种方法滤波后影像的质量得到明显改善.和传统的LMMSE算法相比,无论是单视的影像还是多视的影像,本文方法去噪结果的等效视数都高出8视以上;峰值信噪比也提升了5.8 dB.同时,去噪后影像分类的总体精度也达到了83％以上,该方法的运行效率也比非局部均值算法有了较大提升.结论 本文方法不仅能够有效抑制相干斑噪声,还能较好地保持边缘和细节信息以及极化散射特性.这将会为后续高效利用SAR数据提供保障.     

一种新型的空域SAR图像相干斑抑制方法

为了有效抑制SAR强度图像中的相干斑噪声,提出一种改进Sigma滤波并结合Gamma MAP滤波的空域相干斑抑制方法。首先利用阈值判断法判断并保留强点目标,然后结合SAR图像分布模型和MMSE准则判断Sigma区间,其中可以根据图像局部统计特性自适应调整窗口尺寸,最后选择Sigma区间内像素进行Gamma MAP滤波。实验结果表明:对于星载和机载SAR图像,在相干斑噪声抑制和边缘纹理细节信息保持方面,该方法较其他常用的空域相干斑抑制方法具有明显的优越性,能极大地提高SAR图像判读和目标识别能力。     

改进极化白化滤波的边缘检测

针对SAR影像边缘检测受斑点噪声影响严重和极化信息利用不充分的问题,用滑动模板边缘两侧目标的协方差矩阵代替了极化白化滤波中杂波背景与窗口中心的协方差矩阵,提出一种基于改进极化白化滤波的边缘检测新方法,充分利用了极化通道间的相关性,在有效抑制斑点噪声的同时,提高了极化信息的利用率。模拟和真实极化影像的实验验证了新方法的有效性。     

Study on segmentation and interpretation of multi-look polarimetric SAR images

The segmentation and interpretation of multi-look polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is studied. We first introduce a multi-look polarimetric whitening filter (MPWF) to reduce the speckle in multi-look polarimetric SAR images. Then, by utilizing the wavelet multiresolution approach to extract the texture information in different scales and the Markov random field (MRF) model to characterize the spatial constraints between pixels in each scale level, a multiresolution segmentation algorithm (MSA) to segment the speckle-reduced SAR images is presented. The MSA first segments the image at the lowest resolution level and then proceeds to progressively higher resolutions until individual pixels are well classified. An unsupervised step to estimate both the optimal number of texture classes and their model parameters is also included in the MSA so that the segmentation can be implemented without supervision. Finally, in order to interpret the results of the unsupervised segmentation and to understand the whole polarimetric SAR image, we develop an image interpretation approach which jointly utilizes the scattering mechanism identification and target decomposition approaches. Experimental results with the real-world multi-look polarimetric SAR image demonstrate the effectiveness of the segmentation and interpretation approaches.     

一种抑制SAR图像相干斑的空域滤波算法

为在保护SAR图像边缘特征的同时有效抑制乘性相干斑噪声,提出了一种空域滤波新算法。该算法以负指数衰减型加权滤波模型为基础,通过将SAR图像多种局部统计参量巧妙结合作为联合衰减因子,形成与SAR图像区域分布特性相适应的负指数型加权系数;同时采取两次滤波策略,先由预滤波削弱SAR图像相干斑噪声并估计获得更精准的局部统计参量,然后借助精细局部统计参量再对原SAR图像实施精细滤波。实验结果表明,与多种抑斑算法相比,该算法在SAR图像抑斑与边缘保护方面均获得了更好的性能。     

A multi-scale technique for detecting forest-cover boundary from L-band SAR images

This paper reports the development of a new multi-scale boundarydetection technique suitable for extracting forest-cover boundaries from L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Speckle characteristics of SAR data require the smoothing of an image at a rather coarse scale (resolution) so that subsequent edge detection produces a level of detail that is easily interpretable and appropriate for the application. At finer scales, detected edges are as much due to speckle noise as to true boundary features. In order to detect interpretable forest boundaries from Japanese Earth Resource Satellite (JERS)-1 L-band SAR images, a suitable scale was empirically determined by considering the speckle noise and the spatial resolution of the data. This scale is referred to here as the 'critical scale' because of its importance. However, edges detected at this critical scale are distorted geometrically, while at finer scales edges have progressively better localization but are increasingly noisy. This difficulty in single-scale edge detection is well explained by Canny's uncertainty principle. To overcome this difficulty, a centroid attraction algorithm was formulated that integrates edges detected at a range of scales (with the critical scale as the coarsest) to produce a forest-cover boundary map. Such boundary results are shown to be more accurate and clean than those detected at any single scale.     

Polarimetric SAR statistical analysis using alpha-stable distribution and its application in optimal despeckling

In this article, the statistical model of the polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) single-look complex image is analysed using alpha-stable distribution. It is better to use alpha-stable distribution than Gaussian distribution to represent the statistical characteristics of the polarimetric SAR image. A polarimetric SAR covariance matrix estimation method based on fractional lower-order statistics (FLOS) is proposed. Based on this model, an adaptive polarimetric SAR optimal despeckling method based on FLOS is developed. This algorithm adaptively estimates the characteristic exponents of each channel and uses these estimated alphas to calculate the parameters for the optimal despeckling adaptively. The experiments using polarimetric SAR data demonstrate that the proposed method not only reduces the blurs that occur in the area of impulsive reflectors in the result of the original optimal despeckling method, but also maintains the speckle reduction ability (equivalent number of looks).     

基于边缘检测和四点插值细分的SAR图像去噪

针对SAR图像相干斑滤波中存在的降低相干斑与有效保持细节信息这一矛盾,提出了一种基于四点插值细分的SAR图像去噪的新算法,将四点插值细分规则运用到图像去噪中,并与边缘检测相结合。先用canny算子提取图像边缘,进而通过四点插值细分方法分别对边缘图像和原始图像进行去噪,然后再对边缘信息进行边缘信息的重构,得到新的去噪图像。并通过等效视数、边缘保持指数等评价指标对去噪结果进行了评价。实验结果表明,与其他去噪方法相比,该算法在有效地去噪的同时,可有效地保留图像的边缘信息,具有较好的去噪结果。     

一种面向SAR图像的多窗口道路边缘检测算法

道路作为一种重要地物信息,在城市规划等领域中起着不可替代作用。合成孔径雷达（SAR）具有全天候等成像特点,因此基于SAR图像已有许多道路边缘检测算法。提出一种多窗口道路边缘检测算法,来解决相干斑噪声引起的道路边缘误检率高完整性差等问题。该算法首先以加权局部熵的大小为基础,评估SAR图像中像素点落在道路上的概率,然后以该概率为依据,确定每个像素点多窗口融合的权值。最后,对不同大小窗口的边缘检测结果进行加权融合。通过对不同区域的SAR图像切片进行实验,结果表明加权融合后得到的道路边缘的完整性及对噪声的抑制效果均有所提高。     

引入欧氏距离的各向异性扩散相干斑抑制

目的 相干斑噪声严重影响SAR影像解译。抑制相干斑同时,获取较好的边缘保持效果始终是相干斑抑制的重点。针对该问题,提出一种引入欧氏距离的各向异性扩散（EDAD）相干斑抑制方法。方法 EDAD算法以P-M模型与SRAD算法为基础,利用邻近像素间区域欧氏距离代替原有边缘检测算子,自适应区分同质区与异质区,有效构造各向异性扩散系数,完成相干斑抑制。结果 运用EDAD算法与现存各向异性扩散算法对截取的两景TanDEM-X影像进行试验研究并比较各类算法的评估参数。EDAD算法的等效视数分别为3.996与5.859,均高于其他算法,体现优越的相干斑抑制能力;EDAD算法相干斑抑制前后比值影像的均值分别为0.999与1.001,方差分别为0.270与0.269,较其他算法均更接近理想值1与0.273,展现更优边缘保持与相干斑抑制能力。结论 本文算法可有效提高边缘检测能力,获取更优相干斑抑制效果。经验证,对分布较散的弱相干斑区域与分布较集中的强相干斑区域均有较好适用性。     

Typhoon eye extraction with an automatic SAR image segmentation method

Spaceborne microwave synthetic aperture radar (SAR), with its high spatial resolution (10–100 m), large area coverage, and day/night imaging capability, has been used as an important tool for typhoon monitoring. Since the microwave signal can penetrate through clouds, SAR images reveal typhoon morphology at the sea surface. Within the region of a typhoon eye, wind speed and the associated sea surface roughness are usually low. Therefore, the typhoon eye can be well distinguished as dark areas in SAR images. However, automatic typhoon eye extraction from SAR images is hampered by SAR image speckle noise and other false-alarm dark features contained in an image. In this study, we propose an image processing approach to extract typhoon eyes from SAR images. The three-step image processing includes: (1) applying an extended non-local means image denoizing algorithm to reduce image speckle noise; (2) applying a top-hat transform to denoized imagery to enhance the contrast; and (3) using a labelled watershed to segment the typhoon eye. Experimental results from analysing three Environmental Satellite SAR typhoon images show that our approach provides fast and efficient SAR image segmentation for typhoon eye extraction. Typhoon eyes are segmented correctly, and their edges are well detected. Our experimental results are comparable to manually extracted typhoon eye information. Fine-tuning of this approach will provide an automatic tool for typhoon eye information extraction from SAR images.     

基于跨接约束的高分辨率SAR 影像与光学影像配准

为了实现高分辨率SAR 影像与光学影像之间自动/半自动配准, 提出了一种新颖、稳健的匹配算法。算法首先利用仿射变换进行SAR 影像和光学影像粗匹配, 简化了整体算法的处理复杂度;然后利用影像边缘稳健性, 使用边缘提取算子分别对SAR 影像和光学影像进行边缘提取, 为后续精匹配做好了数据准备; 最后使用基于边缘纹理跨接约束进行影像之间精匹配, 方法引入了邻域配准约束机制, 很好的解决了经典匹配多峰值效应, 提高了算法稳健性和实用性。以国内机载高分辨率SAR 数据和SPOT 25 PAN 数据为例进行算法验证, 实验结果表明该算法能实现自动/半自动的高分辨率SAR 和光学影像之间的像素级配准。     

基于非下采样Contourlet变换的方向Teager能量的极化SAR图像融合*

提出一种基于非下采样Contourlet变换和方向Teager能量的极化SAR图像融合算法。采用具有多尺度、多方向和平移不变性特点的非下采样Contourlet变换对多个单极化强度图像进行分解,然后高频子带图像分别按行和列进行Teager能量计算,选取Teager能量作为度量来提取区域边缘与纹理信息。对于低频系数采用平均融合算法,根据高频子图Teager能量分布差异,对于方向高频系数采用不同最优加权算法实现极化图像的融合处理。实验结果表明,提出的算法与PWF算法相比在保留原始图像边缘和纹理信息的同时,可以有效地抑制相干斑噪声的影响,取得较好的融合视觉效果。     

基于独立分量分析的极化SAR图像的相干斑抑制

研究基于独立分量分析( ICA)的极化合成孔径雷达（SAR）图像相干斑抑制方法。该方法将极化SAR图像斑点噪声的乘积模型，变换为应用ICA的信号独立加噪模型。并且将HV/VV的比值图像，也作为ICA的输入数据。利用ICA 的分离性，得到了分别对应于HH、HV和VV极化的三幅降噪图像。经本文方法处理后的图像，其相干斑噪声得到了有效的抑制，具有较高的等效视数，明显地改善了图像的质量。     

基于优化活动轮廓模型的SAR影像海陆分割方法研究*

SAR（合成孔径雷达）影像具有很强的乘性斑噪,给图像分割带来了困难。本文利用Gamma分布拟合SAR影像,并将其用于构造基于区域信息的能量泛函,提出了一种基于活动轮廓模型的SAR影像海陆自动分割方法。该方法在能量泛函中同时融合了边缘信息和区域信息,既有利于边界精确定位又有利于降低乘性斑噪的影响,利用活动轮廓演化模型,通过变分水平集方法推动活动轮廓曲线向海岸线演化,在最小化特定的能量泛函的约束下,使活动轮廓与海岸线重合,达到影像分割的目的。同时针对该模型提出了优化方法提高其计算效率,使本文提出的分割算法更加实用。     

区域GMM聚类的SAR图像分割

高斯混合模型(GMM)聚类算法近年来广泛应用于图像分割领域。但在SAR图像分割中,由于忽略了图像像素间的空间相关性,使其对相干斑噪声十分敏感。提出一种基于区域的GMM聚类算法,它将空间相关性引入聚类分类中,利用分水岭分割得到基本同质区域,计算区域的灰度均值作为GMM聚类算法的输入样本,将聚类特征从像素水平提升到区域水平,减少了噪声对分割结果的影响;并将自身反馈机制引入期望最大化(EM)算法中,进一步提高了GMM模型参数估计的精度。还对合成图像和真实SAR图像进行了分割实验,结果表明新算法可有效地提高分割的     

基于小波域边缘方向特征的SAR图象噪声抑制方法

给出了一种新的基于小波变换的合成孔径雷达 (SAR)图象斑点噪声抑制方法 .利用每一级小波分解得到的小波系数子带 HL和 L H,以及对原图进行水平方向旋转正负 4 5°扫描后得到的另外两个正交方向的小波系数子带 rc HL和 ra HL ,可以判断出对应点边缘方向性的强弱 ,通过设定方向性阈值 ,确定该点是否位于边缘上 ,进而对没有位于边缘的点进行平滑 ,达到保留图象边缘的同时 ,抑制斑点噪声的目的 .为解决对某些振荡型边缘的检测问题 ,还结合阈值法 ,对该方法做了改进 .实验表明 ,与小波域的硬阈值或软阈值去噪方法相比 ,此方法在有效地抑制斑点噪声的同时 ,更好地保留了 SAR图象中的边缘和纹理信息 .     

基于卡尔曼滤波的SAR图像边缘检测方法

针对传统 Canny 边缘检测算法对合成孔径雷达(SAR)图像的相干斑噪声抑制程度 太高,导致大量边缘的真实信息丢失问题,提出一种新型 Canny 算子边缘检测算法。首先建立 合适的非对称半平面区域(NSHP)图像模型,将空间模型转换成卡尔曼滤波可适用的系统状态方 程;然后用“预测+反馈”的方式对图像去噪;最后通过双阈值算法提取图像的边缘。仿真实验表 明,该方法可以有效地抑制 SAR 图像中的相干斑噪声,同时能较好地保留图像的边缘信息,相 对于传统的 Canny 算法有较好的检测效果。