A Distribution and Structure Match Generative Adversarial Network for SAR Image Classification

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image classification is a fundamental research in the interpretation of SAR images. The previous methods are unilaterally based on statistical features or spatial features, which cannot capture features with complete SAR image characteristics and unavoidably limits the performance for classification. In this article, novel sample weighting and class adversarial training strategies are proposed to fuse complementary SAR characteristics. Based on these, a distribution and structure match auxiliary classifier generative adversarial network (DSM-ACGAN) is constructed for high-quality discriminative feature learning. Particularly, the characteristics of statistical distribution and spatial structure are jointly considered in class adversarial training of DSM-ACGAN. On the one hand, DSM-ACGAN sets the true SAR image characteristics as goals for the generator to learn generative models of each category. On the other hand, and more importantly, it guides the discriminator to simultaneously capture the desired statistical and structural features. Through the class adversarial processing, the discriminative feature learning progressively improves and contributes to classification. Additionally, class-balanced and plausible samples can be generated. Experimental results on three broad SAR images from different satellites confirm the effectiveness of class adversarial training and the superiority of discriminative feature learning in DSM-ACGAN. Visual performance and quantitative metrics also show the state-of-the-art performance of the novel model.