Improved Gradient Direction Assisted Linking Algorithm for Linear Feature Extraction in High Resolution Satellite Images, an Iterative Dynamic Programming Approach

In this paper, an improved gradient direction assisted linking algorithm is proposed. This algorithm begins with initial seeds satisfying some local criteria. Then it will search along the direction provided by the initial point. A window will be generated in the gradient direction of the current point. Instead of the conventional method which only considers the value of the local salient structure, an improved mathematical model is proposed to describe the desired linear features. This model not only considers the value of the salient structure but also the direction of it. Furthermore, the linking problem under this model can be efficiently solved by dynamic programming method. This algorithm is tested for linear features detection in IKONOS images. The result demonstrates this algorithm is quite promising.