SAR image segmentation algorithm based on Contourlet domain AFMRF model

Abstract

Combining the advantage of Contourlet transform with adaptive fuzzy Markov random field (MRF) model, a novel segmentation algorithm is proposed in this study to achieve precise and continuous division for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image. The classical MRF model is modified to obtain the edge and process adaptive label factor. The adaptive fuzzy MRF (AFMRF) model is proposed to equilibrate the smooth regions segmentation with texture regions segmentation. At the same time, Contourlet domain hidden Markov tree (HMT) model is introduced to perform multi-scale directional filtering and intra-scale training on the coefficients of SAR images to achieve precise texture segmentation at each scale. Finally, the AFMRF model is integrated into inter-scale and intra-scale HMT training results and the segmented image can be obtained. To verify the validity of the proposed algorithm, several SAR images are experimented and compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms. The experimental results and analysis show that the proposed algorithm can achieve better results on noise suppression, smoothness of target regions, precise and continuous segmentation of fuzzy texture.