A Deep Learning-Based Compact Weighted Binary Classification Technique to Discriminate between Targets and Clutter in SAR Images

Abstract

The proposed approach is a deep learning-based compact weighted binary classification (DL-CWBC) method to discriminate between targets and clutter in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. A new modified cross-entropy error function is proposed to improve the probability of detection by controlling the rate of false alarms (FAs). The unique feature of a CWBC algorithm is reducing the FA rate and maximizing the probability of target detection without missing any target. For pre-processing, targets and clutter are detected through a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) as a conventional detection algorithm. These are then manually divided into two classes. The classified targets and clutter were trained through a ResNet-101 network. There is a trade-off between the minimization of the FA rate and the maximization of the detection probability for targets of interest (TOIs). The weighted coefficient of the modified cross-entropy error function tries to maximize the performance of this trade-off. In addition, the proposed approach enables us not to miss any targets by an extreme distinction decision. Above all, the DL-CWBC algorithm performs very well despite its simplicity.