Generation of enhanced information image using curvelet-transform-based image fusion for improving situation awareness of observer during surveillance

Abstract

ABSTRACTImage fusion has been widely used to combine multispectral information into an enhanced information image. The application of such enhanced information content in the field of surveillance for improving situation awareness of observer is highly recommended. When a single sensor information is used for surveillance like visible camera output during poor ambient lighting conditions, ‘hot-target’ details are not visible to the observer. The use of visible-infrared fused image is recommended during surveillance in poor ambient lighting conditions to visualise background scene details and ‘hot-target’ details simultaneously. A wrapping-based curvelet transform method is proposed for fusion of infrared and visible images. Curvelet transform is used because of its advantages over wavelet transform limitations like directional insensitivity, isotropic basis and inability to resolve curves. The approximation coefficients are fused using the principal component analysis rule while detailed coefficients are fused using absolute maximum rule. The reconstructed fused image is compared with results of other fusion approaches proposed in literature. The performance of proposed wrapping-based curvelet fusion method is found visually and statistically better in comparison to other fused image outputs. The fused image obtained using proposed method retains background details as well as hot target presence with fidelity.