Automatic Small Crater Recognition Using Digital Elevation Model from Chang'E-2 by Contour Line

Crater detection is a significant research focus in planetary mission. Most of algorithm focus on big crater because the data resolution is not precise enough. So this article proposes a method about small craters automatic recognition from digital elevation model of chang'e-2 data, which is the most precise lunar global data so far. Firstly, we analyze the feature of little crater model to get the parameter and establish index system. Secondly, we get the contour of test data and extract the candidate. Thirdly, we use the Hough-Transform to get the craters information, including the coordinate and diameter. According to the result of test district, we can conclude that the method is useful. The accuracy of the detection is over 85%, and we can set different parameter for different range of craters. The method and the result are good supplement to recent crater detection research, especially to the little size craters. It is the foundation of global carter database in the future work.