A Novel Cluster Kernel RX Algorithm for Anomaly and Change Detection Using Hyperspectral Images

The Reed-Xiaoli (RX) algorithm has been widely used as an anomaly detector for hyperspectral images. Recently, kernel RX (KRX) has been proven to yield high performance in anomaly detection and change detection. In this paper, we present a generalization of the KRX algorithm. The novel algorithm is called cluster KRX (CKRX), which becomes KRX under certain conditions. The key idea is to group background pixels into clusters and then apply a fast eigendecomposition algorithm to generate the anomaly detection index. Both global and local versions of CKRX have been implemented. Application to anomaly detection using actual hyperspectral images is included. In addition to anomaly detection, the CKRX algorithm has been integrated with other prediction algorithms for change detection. Spatially registered visible and near-infrared hyperspectral images collected from a tower-based geometry have been used in the anomaly and change detection studies. Receiver operating characteristics curves and actual computation times were used to compare different algorithms. It was demonstrated that CKRX has comparable detection performance as KRX, but with much lower computational requirements.