A FPGA-based automatic bridge over water recognition in high-resolution satellite images

In this paper a novel algorithm for recognizing bridges over water is presented. The algorithm is designed to run on a small reconfigurable micro chip, a so called Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Hence, the algorithm is computationally lightweight and high processing speeds can be reached. Furthermore no a-priory knowledge about a bridge is necessary. Even bridges with an irregular shape, e. g. with balconies, can be detected. As a result, the center point of the bridge is marked. Due to the low power consumption of the FPGA and the autonomous performance of the algorithm, it is suitable for an image analysis directly on-board of satellites. Meta-data like the coordinates of recognized bridges are immediately available. This could be useful, e. g in case of a natural hazard, when quick information about the infrastructure is desired by the disaster management. The algorithm as well as experimental results on real satellite images are presented and discussed.