Combining Support Vector Machines and Markov Random Fields in an Integrated Framework for Contextual Image Classification

In the framework of remote-sensing image classification, support vector machines (SVMs) have lately been receiving substantial attention due to their accurate results in many applications as well as their remarkable generalization capability even with high-dimensional input data. However, SVM classifiers are intrinsically noncontextual, which represents an important limitation in image classification. In this paper, a novel and rigorous framework, which integrates SVMs and Markov random field models in a unique formulation for spatial contextual classification, is proposed. The developed contextual generalization of SVMs, is obtained by analytically relating the Markovian minimum-energy criterion to the application of an SVM in a suitably transformed space. Furthermore, as a second contribution, a novel contextual classifier is developed in the proposed general framework. Two specific algorithms, based on the Ho–Kashyap and Powell numerical procedures, are combined with this classifier to automate the estimation of its parameters. Experiments are carried out with hyperspectral, multichannel synthetic aperture radar, and multispectral high-resolution images and the behavior of the method as a function of the training-set size is assessed.