Wavelets and image fusion

Abstract

This paper describes an approach to image fusion using the wavelet transform. When images are merged in wavelet space, we can process different frequency ranges differently. For example, high frequency information from one image can be combined with lower frequency information from another, for performing edge enhancement. We have built a prototype system that allows experimentation with various wavelet array combination and manipulation methods for image fusion, using a set of basic operations on wavelet frequency blocks. Problems caused by image misregistration and processing artifacts are described. Examples of wavelet fusion results are shown which merge a pair of images from different sensors.