Visual Image Dehazing Using Polarimetric Atmospheric Light Estimation

Abstract

The precision in evaluating global ambient light profoundly impacts the performance of image-dehazing technologies. Many approaches for quantifying atmospheric light intensity suffer from inaccuracies, leading to a decrease in dehazing effectiveness. To address this challenge, we introduce an approach for estimating atmospheric light based on the polarization contrast between the sky and the scene. By employing this method, we enhance the precision of atmospheric light estimation, enabling the more accurate identification of sky regions within the image. We adapt the original dark channel dehazing algorithm using this innovative technique, resulting in the development of a polarization-based dehazing imaging system employed in practical engineering applications. Experimental results reveal a significant enhancement in the accuracy of atmospheric light estimation within the dark channel dehazing algorithm. Consequently, this method enhances the overall perceptual quality of dehazed images. The proposed approach demonstrates a 28 percent improvement in SSIM and a contrast increase of over 20 percent when compared to the previous method. Additionally, the created dehazing system exhibits real-time processing capabilities.