USRNet: Unified Scene Recovery Network for Enhancing Traffic Imaging under Multiple Adverse Weather Conditions

TL;DR

USRNet is a novel unified neural network designed to restore images degraded by various adverse weather conditions, significantly improving the robustness and accuracy of traffic imaging and surveillance systems.

Contribution

The paper introduces USRNet, a new adaptable scene recovery network with a unique architecture including NILM, capable of handling multiple degradation types in a single model.

Findings

USRNet outperforms existing methods in complex degradation scenarios.

The network demonstrates high robustness across diverse weather conditions.

Experimental results confirm improved image restoration quality.

Abstract

Advancements in computer vision technology have facilitated the extensive deployment of intelligent transportation systems and visual surveillance systems across various applications, including autonomous driving, public safety, and environmental monitoring. However, adverse weather conditions such as haze, rain, snow, and more complex mixed degradation can significantly degrade image quality. The degradation compromises the accuracy and reliability of these systems across various scenarios. To tackle the challenge of developing adaptable models for scene restoration, we introduce the unified scene recovery network (USRNet), capable of handling multiple types of image degradation. The USRNet features a sophisticated architecture consisting of a scene encoder, an attention-driven node independent learning mechanism (NILM), an edge decoder, and a scene restoration module. The scene encoder, powered by advanced residual blocks, extracts deep features from degraded images in a progressive manner, ensuring thorough encoding of degradation information. To enhance the USRNet's adaptability in diverse weather conditions, we introduce NILM, which enables the network to learn and respond to different scenarios with precision, thereby increasing its robustness. The edge decoder is designed to extract edge features with precision, which is essential for maintaining image sharpness. Experimental results demonstrate that USRNet surpasses existing methods in handling complex imaging degradations, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of visual systems across diverse scenarios. The code resources for this work can be accessed in https://github.com/LouisYxLu/USRNet.