Steps involved in Image classification using CNN
Image classification using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) involves a
systematic series of steps, from data acquisition to prediction. Below is a detailed and
formal explanation of all the core steps involved in image classification using CNNs.
Overview: What is Image Classification?
Image Classification is the task of assigning a label or category to an image from a
predefined set of classes. For example, classifying an image as either a cat, dog, or car.
Steps in Image Classification using CNN
1. Data Collection and Preprocessing
a. Dataset Collection
• Obtain a labeled dataset containing multiple categories (e.g., CIFAR-10, MNIST,
ImageNet).
• Each image is associated with a class label.
b. Data Cleaning
• Ensure images are correctly labeled.
• Remove corrupted or irrelevant images.
c. Image Resizing and Normalization
• Resize all images to a common dimension (e.g., 32×32 or 224×224).
• Normalize pixel values (typically in the range 0–1) to reduce numerical instability.
d. Data Splitting
• Divide the dataset into:
o Training Set: Used to train the CNN model.
o Validation Set: Used to tune parameters and monitor performance.
o Test Set: Used to evaluate final accuracy.
2. CNN Architecture Design
The CNN is designed as a stack of layers, each with a specific function. The major
components include:
a. Input Layer
• Accepts an image as a 3D array: Height × Width × Channels (e.g., 32×32×3).
b. Convolutional Layers
• Apply filters/kernels to extract spatial features such as edges, textures, shapes.
• Each filter generates a feature map.
• Parameters: filter size, number of filters, stride, and padding.
c. Activation Function (ReLU)
• Applies the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) to introduce non-linearity.
• ReLU(x) = max(0, x), which allows the model to learn complex patterns.
d. Pooling Layers (Subsampling)
• Reduce the spatial dimensions of feature maps while preserving important
features.
• Common types: Max Pooling and Average Pooling.
• Helps in reducing computation and controlling overfitting.
e. Fully Connected (Dense) Layers
• After convolution and pooling, the output is flattened into a vector.
• One or more fully connected layers are used to learn global patterns.
f. Output Layer
• A fully connected layer with a Softmax activation function.
• The Softmax converts the output into probabilities corresponding to each class.
3. Model Training
The model is trained using the following steps:
a. Forward Propagation
• Input image is passed through the network.
• Activations are computed at each layer and passed forward to compute
predictions.
b. Loss Function
• The prediction is compared with the true label using a loss function (e.g., Cross-
Entropy Loss).
• The loss quantifies the error in prediction.
c. Backpropagation
• Derivatives of the loss function are computed with respect to each parameter
using the chain rule.
• This helps determine how much each parameter contributed to the loss.
d. Optimization
• Parameters (weights and biases) are updated using an optimization algorithm like
Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) or Adam.
• This process is repeated for several epochs.
4. Model Evaluation
After training, the model is evaluated using unseen data.
a. Validation Accuracy
• Measure how well the model performs on validation data after each epoch.
b. Test Accuracy
• Final accuracy on the test set to assess generalization.
c. Confusion Matrix
• A matrix that shows true vs. predicted labels.
• Helps in identifying misclassifications and class-wise performance.
d. Performance Metrics
• Accuracy
• Precision
• Recall
• F1 Score
5. Model Tuning and Regularization
To improve performance:
a. Dropout
• Randomly disables neurons during training to prevent overfitting.
b. Batch Normalization
• Normalizes outputs from layers to speed up training and improve stability.
c. Data Augmentation
• Artificially increases training data by modifying images (rotation, flip, zoom, etc.).
d. Learning Rate Scheduling
• Adjusts learning rate during training for better convergence.
6. Deployment and Inference
Once the model is trained and validated, it can be deployed:
a. Model Saving
• Save the model for reuse and inference.
b. Inference
• Use the trained CNN to predict the class of new images.
c. Integration
• Integrate the model into web apps, mobile apps, or embedded systems for real-
world usage.
Summary Table
Stage Objective
Data Preprocessing Prepare and standardize input images
CNN Design Define feature extraction and classification layers
Training Learn optimal weights through forward/backward propagation
Stage Objective
Evaluation Test model performance on new data
Optimization Enhance accuracy and generalization
Deployment Use trained model for real-time predictions
Conclusion
The process of image classification using CNN is a combination of data engineering,
mathematical computation, and model optimization. CNNs are especially powerful
due to their ability to automatically learn spatial hierarchies of features, making them
extremely effective for computer vision tasks.
