Dehazing for Multispectral Remote Sensing Images Based on a Convolutional Neural Network With the Residual Architecture

Multispectral remote sensing images are often contaminated by haze, which causes low image quality. In this paper, a novel dehazing method based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) with the residual structure is proposed for multispectral remote sensing images. First, multiple CNN individuals with the residual structure are connected in parallel and each individual is used to learn a regression from the hazy image to the clear image. Then, the outputs of CNN individuals are fused with weight maps to produce the final dehazing result. In the designed network, the CNN individuals, mining multiscale haze features through multiscale convolutions, are trained using different levels of haze samples to achieve different dehazing abilities. In addition, the weight maps change with the haze distribution, and the fusion of the CNN individuals is adaptive. The designed network is end-to-end, and putting a hazy image into it, the clear scene can be restored. To train the network, a wavelength-dependent haze simulation method is proposed to generate labeled data, which can synthesize hazy multispectral images highly close to real conditions. Experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately remove the haze in each band of multispectral images under different scenes.