A fast SAR image segmentation method based on improved chicken swarm optimization algorithm

Severe speckle noise existed in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image presents a challenge to image segmentation. Though some traditional segmentation methods for SAR image have some success, most of them fail to consider segmentation effects and segmentation speed at the same time. In this paper, we propose a novel method of SAR image fast segmentation which is based on an improved chicken swarm optimization algorithm. In this method, the positions of the whole chicken swarm are firstly initialized in a narrowed foraging space. Secondly, the grey entropy model is selected as the fitness function of the improved chicken swarm optimization algorithm. Hence, the optimal threshold value is located gradually and quickly by virtue of the foraging behaviors of chicken swarm with a hierarchal order. Experimental results show that our method is superior to some segmentation methods based on genetic algorithm, artificial fish swarm algorithm in convergence, stability and segmentation effects.