Deep Learning Earth Observation Classification Using ImageNet Pretrained Networks

Deep learning methods such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can deliver highly accurate classification results when provided with large enough data sets and respective labels. However, using CNNs along with limited labeled data can be problematic, as this leads to extensive overfitting. In this letter, we propose a novel method by considering a pretrained CNN designed for tackling an entirely different classification problem, namely, the ImageNet challenge, and exploit it to extract an initial set of representations. The derived representations are then transferred into a supervised CNN classifier, along with their class labels, effectively training the system. Through this two-stage framework, we…