Hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms for remote sensing data clustering
摘要
Efficient classification of remote sensing data is essential for accurate environmental monitoring and decision-making. This study evaluates and enhances two bio-inspired meta-heuristic algorithms —focusing on Ant Colony Optimization (AntClust) and the Firefly Algorithm (FClust)— for satellite image classification, both capable of operating without prior knowledge of class numbers or initial partitions. Experimental results show that AntClust outperforms FClust in adaptability and versatility. To improve FClust, we propose two hybrid methods: K-FClust, integrating k-means to accelerate convergence and boost accuracy, and F-AntClust, combining Firefly and AntClust to refine results. K-FClust improved classification accuracy from 94.83% (baseline FClust) to 96.47%, while F-AntClust achieved 98.80%, representing a 4.18% gain over FClust and a 2.33% gain over K-FClust. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of hybrid biomimetic approaches in remote sensing classification and highlight their potential for broader intelligent system applications.