Neural network algorithm based on reinforcement learning for vectorization of aerial and space images

Abstract. This paper presents a novel reinforcement learning (RL) framework for automated vectorization of high-resolution aerial imagery, addressing key challenges in geospatial analysis through adaptive feature extraction and sequential decision-making. Our hybrid architecture combines a modified ResNet-50 backbone with atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) for multi-scale feature extraction and bidirectional GRUs for spatial context modeling, integrated with a dueling double DQN agent that optimizes vectorization through reward-driven policy learning. The proposed method demonstrates significant improvements over conventional approaches, achieving about 10% increase in mean Intersection-over-Union (mIoU) on the CrowdAI Mapping Challenge dataset while reducing processing time by 29% through optimized RL-based decision sequences. A multi-component reward system balances geometric accuracy (boundary F1-score: 0.79), topological correctness (94.1% Cycle Consistency and 93.4% Junction Accuracy), and computational efficiency, enabling robust performance across diverse urban and rural landscapes. This work establishes a new paradigm for adaptive geospatial vectorization that combines deep learning’s representational power with RL’s sequential optimization capabilities.

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Publication Details

Journal
˜The œinternational archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences
Published
2025-09-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlviii-2-w9-2025-57-2025
Primary Topic
Remote Sensing and Land Use
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Neural network algorithm based on reinforcement learning for vectorization of aerial and space images

Vladimir Alexandrovich Knyaz, Vladimir Vladimirovich Kniaz, Anton V. Emelyanov
˜The œinternational archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences
Remote Sensing and Land Use
article

Neural network algorithm based on reinforcement learning for vectorization of aerial and space images

Vladimir Alexandrovich Knyaz, Vladimir Vladimirovich Kniaz, Anton V. Emelyanov
article en

Abstract

Abstract. This paper presents a novel reinforcement learning (RL) framework for automated vectorization of high-resolution aerial imagery, addressing key challenges in geospatial analysis through adaptive feature extraction and sequential decision-making. Our hybrid architecture combines a modified ResNet-50 backbone with atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) for multi-scale feature extraction and bidirectional GRUs for spatial context modeling, integrated with a dueling double DQN agent that optimizes vectorization through reward-driven policy learning. The proposed method demonstrates significant improvements over conventional approaches, achieving about 10% increase in mean Intersection-over-Union (mIoU) on the CrowdAI Mapping Challenge dataset while reducing processing time by 29% through optimized RL-based decision sequences. A multi-component reward system balances geometric accuracy (boundary F1-score: 0.79), topological correctness (94.1% Cycle Consistency and 93.4% Junction Accuracy), and computational efficiency, enabling robust performance across diverse urban and rural landscapes. This work establishes a new paradigm for adaptive geospatial vectorization that combines deep learning’s representational power with RL’s sequential optimization capabilities.

˜The œinternational archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences/International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciencesVol. XLVIII-2/W9-2025
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (RU), State Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Systems (RU)
Openalex Percentile: Top 71%
Remote Sensing and Land Use
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