A system for model-based object recognition in perspective aerial images

Recognition of objects in complex, perspective aerial imagery is difficult because of occlusion, shadow, clutter and various forms of image degradation. This paper presents a system for aircraft recognition under real-world conditions. The particular approach is based on the use of a hierarchical database of object models and involves three key processes: (a) The qualitative object recognition process performs heterogeneous model-based symbolic feature extraction and generic object recognition; (b) The refocused matching and evaluation process refines the extracted features for more specific classification with input from (a); and (c) The primitive feature extraction process regulates the extracted features based on their saliency and interacts with (a) and (b). Experimental results showing the qualitative recognition of aircraft in perspective, aerial images are presented. (C) 1998 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.