Color restoration of underwater images considering light scattering and absorption

Abstract

The color of its objects captured in the sea is different from that of the observation on the ground due to the influences of scattering and absorption of light. It is important to restore the color of underwater images in order to estimate the material of an object and its corrosion state using optical information such as color and reflectance of the surface of an object. In this research, we develop a method for restoring the color of underwater images considering the influences of scattering and absorption of light in water based on a physical approach. First, scattering (in-scattering) light is removed from an image captured in water, and the color of an underwater image is restored based on the attenuation of light due to scattering (out-scattering) light and absorption. We examine the proposed method using underwater images rendered with scattering and absorption phenomena. We also investigate lighting effects considering scattering and absorption.