An Improved Fast SPIHT Image Compression Algorithm for Aerial Applications

In this paper, an improved fast SPIHT algorithm has been presented. SPIHT and NLS (Not List SPIHT) are efficient compression algorithms, but the algorithms application is limited by the shortcomings of the poor error resistance and slow compression speed in the aviation areas. In this paper, the error resilience and the compression speed are improved. The remote sensing images are decomposed by Le Gall5/3 wavelet, and wavelet coefficients are indexed, scanned and allocated by the means of family blocks. The bit-plane importance is predicted by bitwise OR, so the N bit-planes can be encoded at the same time. Compared with the SPIHT algorithm, this improved algorithm is easy implemented by hardware, and the compression speed is improved. The PSNR of reconstructed images encoded by fast SPIHT is higher than SPIHT and CCSDS from 0.3 to 0.9db, and the speed is 4-6 times faster than SPIHT encoding process. The algorithm meets the high speed and reliability requirements of aerial applications.