Segmentation

Recently, we have proposed a segmentation algorithm which combines region and contour imformation. The method begins by detecting the main contours of the scene following the edge extraction algorithm exposed by Cufi et al in 1996. The contours obtained represent the boundaries between regions, so every contour theoretically separates two adjacent regions in the image. Then a set of growing centres are chosen at each side and along the contour. Here, we suppose the seeds belonging to a determined side of the contour are associated to the same region. Then, these seeds are used as samples of the corresponding regions and analysed in the chromatic space. The idea consists on to know a priori some characteristics of regions in order to establish appropriated criteria for the posterior growing processes. This allows to adjust the homogeneity criterion to the region's characteristics using specific criteria on each region. Finally, the seeds simultaneously start a concurrent growth using the criterion established for each region which is based on clustering analysis and convex hull construction.

Related papers

• X.Muñoz, X.Cufí, J.Freixenet, and J.Martí. A new Approach to Segmentation Based on Fusing Circumscribed Contours, Region Growing and Clustering. Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference On Image Processing (ICIP), vol. 1 pp. 800-803. Vancouver, Sept. 2000.
• X.Cufí, X.Muñoz, J.Freixenet, and J.Martí. A Concurrent Region Growing Algorithm Guided by Circumscribed Contours. Proceedings of the International Conference On Pattern Recognition (ICPR), vol. 1, pp. 432-435. Barcelona, Sept. 2000.
• X.Cufí, J.Freixenet, M.Llover, A.Casals. A Method To Filter Less Meaningful Contours From Natural Scenes. Spanish Symposium On Pattern Recognition And Image Analysis (I), Bilbao, 1999, Pp: 153-160.
• A Segmentation Process for Natural Images based on the Cooperation between Textural Information and Contour Analysis". Xevi Cufí, Alícia Casals. SNARFAI VII Simposium Nacional de Reconocimiento de Formas y Análisis de Imágenes. Pag II- 72-73. Barcelona (Spain), April 1997.
• A Criterion for Circumscribed Contours Determination for Image Segmentation", X. Cufí, A. Casals. IAPR on Machine Vision Applications, MVA'96. Pag 309-312. Tokyo (Japan), November 1996.
• Aportació a la Segmentació d'Imatges Mitjançant l'Obtenció dels Contorns Envolvents", Xevi Cufí. 1er Seminari de Treball en Automàtica, Robòtica i Percepció. Pag 243-251. Barcelona (Spain), February 1996.