中文摘要：

该文首先概述了数据融合的基本概念和应用，概括了现有图像融合的基本原理和进行融合的基本步骤，介绍了三种不同层次的图像融合方法．通过Matlab仿真程序设计，对传统的图像融合方法和现有的融合方法进行了比较和评价，分析了图像融合领域存在的问题，最后提出了基于contoudet和并行PCNN算法的图像融合方法，并预测了未来的融合研究方向．

英文摘要：

Summarized the basic concept of data fusion and its application, introduced the steps of fusion process with three different image fusion methods, compared under Matlab environment the performances of the traditional and the new methods, evaluated the existing problems, proposed new image fusion methods based on contourlet and improved PCNN（ Pulse-coupled neural networks） algorithm, and, finally, predicted the future research on image fusion.