Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/27344
Title: Utility of machine learning algorithms for natural background photo classification
Authors: Waldrop, Lauren E.
Hart, Carl R.
Parker, Nancy E.
Pettit, Chris L.
McIntosh, Scotlund.
Keywords: Camouflage (Military science)
Computer algorithms
Computer vision
Machine learning
Remote sensing
Terrain characterization
Vegetation classification
Publisher: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)
Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.: Technical Report (Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) ) ; no. ERDC/CRREL TR-18-7
Abstract: In support of the Terrain Characterization for Rendering and Field Evaluation effort, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), assisted the Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) in evaluating machine learning algorithms to automatically classify three vegetation types (tree, shrub, and herbaceous), and a non-vegetated type in terrestrial images. In a previous partnership between CRREL and NSRDEC, researchers developed the Global Natural Background Image Database (GNBID), a collection of natural background images classified by vegetation attributes to include vegetation type and height, leaf shape, leaf color, and many others. Following deployment, the GNBID successfully improved on-the-ground understanding of natural background environments and quickly revealed the need for a larger database. Manual classification methods proved time intensive and variable, thus CRREL explored the feasibility of automatically identifying features using machine learning algorithms. In this scope-of-work study, we explore a multitude of computer vision techniques, settling on a supervised deep-learning technique. Here we present the advantages and disadvantages of various techniques, classification results from a subset of images, and recommendations for future research in this area.
Description: Technical Report
Gov't Doc #: ERDC/CRREL TR-18-7
Rights: Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11681/27344
http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/27344
Size: 69 pages/3.920 Mb
Types of Materials: PDF/A
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
ERDC-CRREL TR-18-7.pdf4.01 MBAdobe PDFThumbnail
View/Open