A unifying perspective of coherent and non-coherent change detection

In this paper we present a new generalized family of change detection algorithms for SAR imagery that, includes traditional non-coherent and coherent processing as special cases. The parameterized family of algorithms, referred to as partially coherent change detection (PCCD), allows the user to select the level of coherence desired in the change detection algorithm. This and other settings of the algorithm enable one to specify the types of changes that are significant, thereby reducing the number of false alarms due to insignificant changes such as foliage motion. Algorithm settings may also be applied spatially in Order to support spatially varying levels of coherence based on scene content. Examples from synthetic and measured imagery demonstrate the efficacy of the new family of algorithms.