Genetic-based fuzzy image filter and its application to image processing

In this paper, we propose a Genetic-based Fuzzy Image Filter (GFIF) to remove additive identical independent distribution (i.i.d.) impulse noise from highly corrupted images. The proposed filter consists of a fuzzy number construction process, a fuzzy filtering process, a genetic learning process, and an image knowledge base. First, the fuzzy number construction process receives sample images or the noise-free image and then constructs an image knowledge base for the fuzzy filtering process. Second, the fuzzy filtering process contains a parallel fuzzy inference mechanism, a fuzzy mean process, and a fuzzy decision process to perform the task of noise removal. Finally, based on the genetic algorithm, the genetic learning process adjusts the parameters of the image knowledge base. By the experimental results, GFIF achieves a better performance than the state-of-the-art filters based on the criteria of Peak-Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (PSNR), Mean-Square-Error (MSE), and Mean-Absolute-Error (MAE). On the subjective evaluation of those filtered images, GFIF also results in a higher quality of global restoration.