NTIRE 2024 Dense and Non-Homogeneous Dehazing Challenge Report

Codruta O. Ancuti, Cosmin Ancuti, Florin-Alexandru Vasluianu, Radu Timofte, Yidi Liu, Xingbo Wang, Yurui Zhu, Gege Shi, Xin Lu, Xueyang Fu, Zheng-Jun Zha, Wei Dong, Han Zhou, Ruiyi Wang, Xiaohong Liu, Guangtao Zhai, Jun Chen, Wei Song, Yichang Gao, Jiahao Xiong et al. (48 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: This study examines the results of the NTIRE 2024 Challenge on Dense and Non-Homogeneous Dehazing. Innovative methods were introduced and tested using a new image dataset named DNH-HAZE. The DNH-HAZE dataset comprises 50 pairs of authentic outdoor images showcasing dense and non-homogeneous haze alongside corresponding haze-free images of identical scenes. The haze was simulated using a professional setup designed to mirror real-world hazy conditions. The competition attracted 374 participants, with 16 teams presenting solutions for the final evaluation phase. The proposed solutions showed the leading edge of image dehazing technology.