Road network extraction via deep learning and line integral convolution

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a learning-based road network extraction scheme from high resolution satellite. First, the convolutional neural network (CNN), which is able to capture large context of local structures, are applied to predict the probability of a pixel belonging to road regions, and assign labels to each pixel to describe whether it is road. Then, a line integral convolution based algorithm is developed to smooth the rough map to connect small gaps. Finally, by combining with some common image processing operators, road centerlines are able to be acquired. Attribute to the learning capacity of CNN, and the line integral convolution based connection scheme, the proposed road extraction method is able to provide high quality results comparing to current state-of-art road extraction methods.