Fuzzy Image Classification Using Multiresolution Neural Networks with Applications to Remote Sensing

Recent progress in supervised image classification research, has demonstrated the potential usefulness of incorporating fuzziness in the training, allocation and testing stages of several classification techniques. In this paper a multiresolution neural network approach to supervised classification is presented, exploiting the inherent fuzziness of such techniques in order to perform classification at different resolution levels and gain in computational complexity. In particular, multiresolution image analysis is carried out and hierarchical neural networks are used as an efficient architecture for classification of the derived multiresolution image representations. A new scheme is then introduced for transferring classification results to higher resolutions based on the fuzziness of the results of lower resolutions, resulting in faster implementation. Experimental results on land cover mapping applications from remotely sensed data illustrate significant improvements in classification speed without deterioration of representation accuracy.