Improved Classification Ability in Littoral Environments by Decision Fusion

In this paper we investigate if the classification ability in littoral environments can be improved by decision fusion. We design and evaluate classifiers for discrimination of two ship types. The data was recorded with an underwater multisensor system at a sea trial conducted in the Baltic Sea off the east coast of Sweden. The sensor system consisted of both electrode sensors and hydrophones. The electrode sensors recorded extremely low frequency electric (ELFE) signatures and the hydrophones recorded underwater acoustic signatures of passing surface ships. Classification is performed separately on each signature and finally the separate decisions are fused into one unified decision. In addition, the possible benefits of temporal decision fusion are investigated.