SAR image delineation of multiple targets in close proximity

Abstract:
This paper considers the problem of automatic outline extraction for vehicle targets in SAR imagery. A technique involving multiple active-contours evolving simultaneously is developed and tested on real radar data. A novel algorithm is developed to overcome the problem of evolving multiple contours. Initial results show a problem with the multiple contour approach; the algorithm converges to local minima in which contours include pixels which should belong to neighbouring targets. Improvements to overcome this are presented and compared. In particular, a technique referred to as multiple hypothesis delineation, in which the contours can be in several states simultaneously, is developed and shown to lead to a considerable improvement in the convergence time and delineation error obtained.