Multiresolution despeckling of VHR SAR images based on MRF segmentation

In this work, maximum a posteriori (MAP) despeckling, implemented in the multiresolution domain defined by the undecimated discrete wavelet transform (UDWT), will carried out on very high resolution (VHR) SAR images and compared with earlier multiresolution approaches developed by the authors. The MAP solution in UDWT domain has been specialized to SAR imagery. Every UDWT subband is segmented into statistically homogeneous segments and one generalized Gaussian (GG) PDF (variance and shape factor) is estimated for each segment. This solution allows to effectively handle scene heterogeneity as imaged by the VHR SAR system. Segmentation exploits a Tree Structured Markov Random Field (TSMRF), which is a low complexity MRF segmentation that allows the estimation of the number of segments and the segmentation itself to be carried out at same time. Experiments performed on a single-look VHR X-band SAR images demonstrate that the segmented approach is effective whenever the classical circular Gaussian model of complex reflectivity may no longer hold. © 2010 IEEE.