Fuzzy classification of earth terrain covers using complex polarimetric SAR data

Abstract The conventional approach of terrain image classification that assigns a specific class for each pixel is inadequate, because the area covered by each pixel may embrace more than a single class. Fuzzy set theory which has been developed to deal with imprecise information can be incorporate in the analysis for a more appropriate solution to this problem. In the current state of imaging radar technology, polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is unique in providing complete polarization information of ground covers for more effective classification than a single polarization radar. In this paper, we use the fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm for unsupervised segmentation of multi-look polarimetric SAR images. A statistical distance measure adopted in this algorithm is derived from the complex Wishart distribution of the complex covariance matrix. In classifying polarimetric SAR imagery, each terrain class is characterized by its own feature covariance matrix. The algorithm searches for cluster centres for each class and generates a fuzzy partition for the whole image. Membership grades obtained for each pixel provide detailed information about spatial terrain variations. Classification of the image is achieved by choosing a defuzzification criterion. When the back-scattering characteristics of two or more classes are not well distinguished from each other, a divisive hierarchical clustering procedure is adopted to locate their respective feature covariance matrices. NASA/JPL AIRSAR data is used to substantiate this fuzzy classification algorithm.