Terrain Classification using Multiple Image Features

Abstract

A wide variety of image processing applications require segmentation and classification ofimages. The problem becomes complex when the images are obtained in an uncontrolledenvironment with a non-uniform illumination. The selection of suitable features is a critical partof an image segmentation and classification process, where the basic objective is to identify theimage regions that are homogeneous but dissimilar to all spatially adjacent regions. This paperproposes an automatic method for the classification of a terrain using image features such asintensity, texture, and edge. The textural features are calculated using statistics of geometricalattributes of connected regions in a sequence of binary images obtained from a texture image.A pixel-wise image segmentation scheme using a multi-resolution pyramid is used to correct thesegmentation process so as to get homogeneous image regions. Localisation of texture boundariesis done using a refined-edge map obtained by convolution, thinning, thresholding, and linking.The individual regions are classified using a database generated from the features extracted fromknown samples of the actual terrain. The algorithm is used to classify airborne images of a terrainobtained from the sensor mounted on an aerial reconnaissance platform and the results arepresented.