The performance of image compression algorithms in noisy environments

In the effort to digitize the battlefield, one of the most difficult capabilities to provide is the reliable transmission of imagery across the available data links. The most severe obstacles occur at low, echelons, where, most often, the communication link is provided by combat net radios. The low-bandwidth, noisy nature of this physical channel represents the most serious challenge to implementation of the digital battlefield of the future. These channels make the compression of any imagery a requirement for timely transmission. We explore the effects of noise on a variety of image compression techniques, namely fractal, wavelet, DPCM and the most recent compression standard for still imagery, JPEG version 6. Methods for minimizing the effects of the noisy channel are also considered