Deep Learning Based Domain Adaptation Methods in Remote Sensing: A Comprehensive Survey

Domain adaptation is a crucial and increasingly important task in remote sensing, aiming to transfer knowledge from a source domain a differently distributed target domain. It has broad applications across various real-world applications, including remote sensing element interpretation, ecological environment monitoring, and urban/rural planning. However, domain adaptation in remote sensing poses significant challenges due to differences in data, such as variations in ground sampling distance, imaging modes from various sensors, geographical landscapes, and environmental conditions. In recent years, deep learning has emerged as a powerful tool for feature representation and cross-domain knowledge transfer, leading to widespread adoption in remote sensing tasks. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of significant advancements in deep learning based domain adaptation for remote sensing. We first introduce the preliminary knowledge to clarify key concepts, mathematical notations, and the taxonomy of methodologies. We then organize existing algorithms from multiple perspectives, including task categorization, input mode, supervision paradigm, and algorithmic granularity, providing readers with a structured understanding of the field. Next, we review widely used datasets and summarize the performance of state-of-the-art methods to provide an overview of current progress. We also identify open challenges and potential directions to guide future research in domain adaptation for remote sensing. Compared to previous surveys, this work addresses a broader range of domain adaptation tasks in remote sensing, rather than concentrating on a few subfields. It also presents a systematic taxonomy, providing a more comprehensive and organized understanding of the field. As a whole, this survey can inspire the research community, foster understanding, and guide future work in the field.