Infrared Small Target Detection Based on Adaptive Region Growing Algorithm With Iterative Threshold Analysis

Existing infrared (IR) small target detection algorithms often lack adaptability in complex scenes and heavily rely on parameter configurations. To address this limitation, we propose a novel IR small target detection method based on adaptive region growing algorithm with iterative threshold analysis that leverages the homogenous compactness of the small target and discontinuity with its surroundings. Initially, the image undergoes adaptive splitting into multiple regions using an automatic seeded region growing (ASRG) algorithm, eliminating the need for preassigned seed points. Next, the segmentation results at each threshold are utilized to calculate the relative residual map (RRM) and local dissimilarity map (LDM), contributing to the selection of the optimal threshold. Finally, RRM and LDM corresponding to the optimal threshold are integrated to accurately characterize the small target signal while effectively removing background clutter. The experimental results show that the proposed method is effective in clutter removal and small target detection in diverse complex scenes and is robust to the shape and size of targets.