Selection of Optimal Segmentation Algorithm for Satellite Images by Intuitionistic Fuzzy PROMETHEE Method

Abstract

The combination of MCDM and fuzzy sets offers new potential ways to solve the challenges posed by complex image contents, such as selecting the optimal segmentation algorithm or evaluating the segmentation quality based on various parameters. Since no single segmentation algorithm can achieve the best results on satellite image datasets, it is essential to determine the most appropriate segmentation algorithm for each satellite image, the content of which can be characterized by relevant visual features. In this research, we proposed a set of visual criteria representing the fundamental aspects of satellite image segmentation. The segmentation algorithms chosen for testing were evaluated for their performance against each criterion. We introduced a new method to create a decision matrix for each image using fuzzy fusion, which combines the image content vector and the evaluation matrix of the studied segmentation algorithms. An extension of the Preference Ranking Organization Method Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) using intuitive fuzzy sets (IFSs) was applied to solve this problem. The results acquired by the proposed methodology were validated by comparing them with those obtained in expert ratings and by performing a sensitivity analysis.

Keywords

• satellite imagery
• image segmentation
• segmentation quality assessment
• multiple-criteria decision-making methods
• PROMETHEE
• intuitionistic fuzzy set