Abstract
In this paper the image fusion algorithm based on Contourlet transform and Pulse Coupled Neural Network (PCNN) was proposed to improve the performance of the image fusion in the detection accuracy of obstacles in forests. At the same time, the wavelet transform and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were simulated for comparison with the proposed algorithm. Then visible and infrared thermal images were collected in a forest. The experimental results have shown that the fused images using the method proposed provided a better understanding of the reality, enhanced images’ clarity and eliminated factors which provided shelters for targets.