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Infrared target detection based on the single-window average absolute gray difference algorithm

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Abstract

In this research, an infrared small target detection method called single-window average absolute gray difference algorithm (SW-AAGD) is proposed. This algorithm is derived from the average absolute difference algorithm which is highly capable of enhancing targets and suppressing the background clutters in infrared images. A common challenge in the average absolute gray difference algorithm is the choice of proper target and background windows due to the blurred edges of the small target. In the proposed algorithm, a single window is used for the target and background windows. To address this issue, a degree of membership is defined for each existing pixel of these windows. The membership degrees of pixels in the main window are in accordance with the properties of real targets in infrared images. These values are estimated in a way that there is no need for determining the exact target and background areas. To estimate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, the algorithm is applied on several real images that contain real targets and the results are compared to five well-known methods in terms of the signal to clutter ratio (SCR), background suppression factor (BSF) and receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results prove the effectiveness of the membership degree assignment on the overall performance of detection algorithm.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used during the current study are available at https://github.com/moradisaed.

Code availability

The source codes used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

The authors declare that there is no specific funding for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Industry and Mining, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Khash, Iran

    Hadi Shahraki

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Saed Moradi

  3. Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Shokoufeh Aalaei

Authors
  1. Hadi Shahraki
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  2. Saed Moradi
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  3. Shokoufeh Aalaei
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Contributions

Hadi Shahraki contributed to conceptualization, coding, writing original draft. Saed Moradi contributed to coding, writing original draft. Shokoufeh Aalaei contributed to writing original draft.

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Correspondence to Hadi Shahraki.

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Shahraki, H., Moradi, S. & Aalaei, S. Infrared target detection based on the single-window average absolute gray difference algorithm. SIViP 16, 857–863 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11760-021-02027-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11760-021-02027-9

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