Recent Advancement in Underwater Image Enhancement Strategies: A Review

Abstract

In the process of ocean world exploration, a key role is played by underwater imaging technology. However, due to light attenuation phenomenon, underwater imaging severely suffers from quality degradation. Technological advancement provides both hardware and software solutions to improve underwater image quality. However, software solutions are observed to be more viable and cost effective. At the beginning, underwater image enhancing approaches are designed using conventional image processing methods. Later development in this sector involved specific method tailoring of image enhancement models by considering underwater environmental conditions. Most of the methods are developed to target specific issues and designed for noise removal, deblurring, colour correction, contrast enhancement and dehazing to enhance underwater image quality. Progression in the artificial intelligence based approaches is also reviewed to assess recent advancement in this sector. Present survey specifically reviews very recent attempts of underwater image enhancements based on these approaches. The inference of the review reveals the scope of improvement.