Cloud detection from visual band of satellite image based on variance of fractal dimension

摘要

Cover ratio of cloud is a very important factor which affects the quality of a satellite image, therefore cloud detection from satellite images is a necessary step in assessing the image quality. The study on cloud detection from the visual band of a satellite image is developed. Firstly, we consider the differences between the cloud and ground including high grey level, good continuity of grey level, area of cloud region, and the variance of local fractal dimension (VLFD) of the cloud region. A single cloud region detection method is proposed. Secondly, by introducing a reference satellite image and by comparing the variance in the dimensions corresponding to the reference and the tested images, a method that detects multiple cloud regions and determines whether or not the cloud exists in an image is described. By using several Ikonos images, the performance of the proposed method is demonstrated.