The hyperspectral matched filter (MF) is a popular tool in remote sensing problems for locating objects that extend over several pixels. However, it is ideally suited only for the detection of sub-pixel targets with known mean signature in radiance space. Here we develop an alternative affine matched filter (AMF) that is more appropriate for detecting extended targets, and which accommodates practical uncertainties in target signature knowledge. In particular, AMF is ideal when used in conjunction with another new method we develop, called Virtual Relative Calibration (VRC), for generating a radiance space representation of a laboratory reflectance signature. VRC is related to the QUick Atmospheric Correction(QuAC) method but is much simpler. We also devise and test an extension of AMF that is meant to reduce false alarms caused by dark pixels. This Joint AMF (JAMF) expands the standard statistical model of hyperspectral backgrounds to accommodate variable illumination levels, analogously to how AMF treats target level uncertainty.

Date Published: 27 April 2009
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 7334, Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XV, 733403 (27 April 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.817409

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7334:
Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XV
Sylvia S. Shen; Paul E. Lewis, Editor(s)