CGMNet: Semantic Change Detection via a Change-Aware Guided Multi-Task Network

Change detection (CD) is the main task in the remote sensing field. Binary change detection (BCD), which only focuses on the region of change, cannot meet current needs. Semantic change detection (SCD) is pivotal for identifying regions of change in sequential remote sensing imagery, focusing on discerning “from-to” transitions in land cover. The emphasis on features within these regions of change is critical for SCD efficacy. Traditional methodologies, however, often overlook this aspect. In order to address this gap, we introduce a change-aware guided multi-task network (CGMNet). This innovative network integrates a change-aware mask branch, leveraging prior knowledge of regions of change to enhance land cover classification in dual temporal remote sensing images. This strategic focus allows for the more accurate identification of altered regions. Furthermore, to navigate the complexities of remote sensing environments, we develop a global and local attention mechanism (GLAM). This mechanism adeptly captures both overarching and fine-grained spatial details, facilitating more nuanced analysis. Our rigorous testing on two public datasets using state-of-the-art methods yielded impressive results. CGMNet achieved Overall Score metrics of 58.77% on the Landsat-SCD dataset and 37.06% on the SECOND dataset. These outcomes not only demonstrate the exceptional performance of the method but also signify its superiority over other comparative algorithms.