AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF THE LEE FILTER FOR SPECKLE SUPPRESSION IN SAR IMAGES

An alternative form of the widely used Lee SAR filter is presented. The original Lee filter and its alternative formulation are mathematically equivalent. The new formulation, consisting of one single equation expressed in terms of coefficient of variation, allows a better interpretation of the filter effectiveness, The proposed alternative form is compared with another alternative expression of the Lee filter taken from the literature. A brief comparison between the Lee filter and the Kuan filter effectiveness is presented as well. Neither an increase in computational efficiency nor an improvement in operational effectiveness can be expected by implementing this Lee filter alternative expression. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.