Imaging　in　the　atmosphere　is　often　degraded　by　scattering　due　to　atmospheric　particles　such　as　haze,　fog,　and　mist.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　novel　fast　defogging　method　based　on　the　atmospheric　scattering　model.　The　white　balance　is　performed　and　the　atmospheric　scattering　model　is　simplified　prior　to　visibility　restoration.　In　the　inference　process　of　the　atmospheric　veil,　the　coarser　estimate　is　refined　using　a　fast　bilateral　filtering　approach　that　preserves　edges.　Finally,　the　scene　albedo　is　recovered　by　inverting　this　simplified　model.　The　complexity　of　the　proposed　method　is　only　a　linear　function　of　the　number　of　input　image　pixels　and　this　allows　a　very　fast　implementation.　Results　on　a　variety　of　outdoor　foggy　images　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　method　achieves　good　restoration　for　contrast　and　color　fidelity,　resulting　in　a　great　improvement　in　image　visibility.　Copyright　©　2011　Acta　Automatica　Sinica.