English

Complex Isotropic {\alpha}-Stable-Rician Model for Heterogeneous SAR Images

Image and Video Processing 2023-06-08 v1

Abstract

This article introduces a novel probability distribution model, namely Complex Isotropic {\alpha}-Stable-Rician (CI{\alpha}SR), for characterizing the data histogram of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Having its foundation situated on the L\'evy {\alpha}-stable distribution suggested by a generalized Central Limit Theorem, the model promises great potential in accurately capturing SAR image features of extreme heterogeneity. A novel parameter estimation method based on the generalization of method of moments to expectations of Bessel functions is devised to resolve the model in a relatively compact and computationally efficient manner. Experimental results based on both synthetic and empirical SAR data exhibit the CI{\alpha}SR model's superior capacity in modelling scenes of a wide range of heterogeneity when compared to other state-of-the-art models as quantified by various performance metrics. Additional experiments are conducted utilizing large-swath SAR images which encompass mixtures of several scenes to help interpret the CI{\alpha}SR model parameters, and to demonstrate the model's potential application in classification and target detection.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2306.04383,
  title  = {Complex Isotropic {\alpha}-Stable-Rician Model for Heterogeneous SAR Images},
  author = {Mutong Li and Ercan Engin Kuruoglu},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.04383},
  year   = {2023}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T10:58:46.490Z