Automated detection of geological landforms on Mars using Convolutional Neural Networks. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palafox, Leon F.; Hamilton, Christopher W.; Scheidt, Stephen P.; Alvarez, Alexander M.
• Is Part Of: Computers & geosciences. Volume 101(2017)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Convolutional neural networks -- Support vector machines -- Volcanic rootless cones -- Transverse aeolian ridges -- Mars; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cageo.2016.12.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0098-3004

Abstract

Abstract: The large volume of high-resolution images acquired by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has opened a new frontier for developing automated approaches to detecting landforms on the surface of Mars. However, most landform classifiers focus on crater detection, which represents only one of many geological landforms of scientific interest. In this work, we use Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets) to detect both volcanic rootless cones and transverse aeolian ridges. Our system, named MarsNet, consists of five networks, each of which is trained to detect landforms of different sizes. We compare our detection algorithm with a widely used method for image recognition, Support Vector Machines (SVMs) using Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) features. We show that ConvNets can detect a wide range of landforms and has better accuracy and recall in testing data than traditional classifiers based on SVMs. Abstract : Highlights: Five Convolutional Neural Networks are used to classify landforms. The Neural Network is compared with an SVM classifier. The systems generates automated mapping of different landforms of interest. The system is shown to work with different landforms.