Authors:
Alastair H. Cummings
;
Mark S. Nixon
and
John N. Carter
Affiliation:
University of Southampton, United Kingdom
Keyword(s):
Feature extraction, Image processing analogy, Ray-tracing, Wave, Light ray, Transform, Circle detection.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Computer Vision, Visualization and Computer Graphics
;
Feature Extraction
;
Features Extraction
;
Image and Video Analysis
;
Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics
;
Segmentation and Grouping
;
Signal Processing, Sensors, Systems Modeling and Control
Abstract:
Physical analogies are an exciting paradigm for creating techniques for image feature extraction. A transform using an analogy to light rays has been developed for the detection of circular and tubular features. It uses a 2D ray tracing algorithm to follow rays through an image, interacting at a low level, to emphasise higher level features. It has been empirically tested as a pre-processor to aid circle detection with the Hough Transform and has been shown to provide a clear improvement over standard techniques. The transform was also used on natural images and we show its ability to highlight circles even in complex scenes. We also show the flexibility available to the technique through adjustment of parameters.