Feature based fuzzy inference system for segmentation of low-contrast infrared ship images

Segmentation of infrared ship target is important for sea surveillance system. However, as a result of the deficiencies of infrared images, the segmentation of infrared ship image becomes a challenge. For the purpose of addressing this problem, a feature based infrared ship image segmentation method utilizing the fuzzy inference system is proposed. Firstly, the intensity feature is extracted by applying unimodal threshold, which could preserve the low-contrast pixels in the infrared images. Secondly, the local spatial feature is extracted by employing saliency detection, region growing and morphology processing, which could express the shape of the target. Thirdly, the global spatial feature is extracted by utilizing partial region growing and weighted distance transformation, which could suppress the background. Then these features are fuzzified using accommodative ways and prior knowledge. And in light of the fuzzy rules based upon expert knowledge, these fuzzified features are integrated in fuzzy inference system. Finally, the complete target could be directly segmented from the output of the fuzzy inference system. Experimental results illustrate that the proposed method could effectively extract more intact targets from the low-contrast infrared ship images. Additionally, the proposed method outperforms some existed segmentation methods.