Fuzzy Clustering of Noisy Images Using a Gaussian Kernel and Spatial Information with Automatic Parameter Tuning and C+ Means Initialization

The segmentation of noisy images remains one of the primary challenges in image processing. Traditional fuzzy clustering algorithms often exhibit poor performance in the presence of high-density noise due to insufficient consideration of spatial features. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed that leverages both local and non-local spatial information, utilizing a Gaussian kernel to counteract high-density noise. This method enhances the algorithm’s sensitivity to spatial relationships between pixels, thereby reducing the impact of noise. Additionally, a C+ means initialization approach is introduced to improve performance and reduce sensitivity to initial conditions, along with an automatic smoothing parameter tuning method. The evaluation results, based on the criteria of fuzzy assignment coefficient, fuzzy segmentation entropy, and segmentation accuracy, demonstrate a significant improvement in the performance of the proposed method.