Digital Image Processing

Geog-3203

Khurram Chohan

Foundations for Applied GIS

Digital Image Processing

The field of digital image processing refers to processing digital images by means of computer system.

Digital Image is composed of finite number of elements, each having a particular location and value. These elements are called Picture Elements /Image Elements / Pels / Pixels
Pixel is the most common term which is being used to denote digital images.

Human Perception and EM Spectrum

Images play an important role in human perception.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Shorter the wave length, higher the frequency. Conversely, longer the wavelength, lower the frequency.

So Gamma rays are most energetic and radio waves are least energetic.
It is also proved that longer waves are more difficult to measure than shorter waves.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Light is a particular type of electromagnetic radiation that can be seen and sensed by the human eye, but this energy exists at a wide range of wavelengths

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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A narrow range of EMR extending from 0.4 to 0.7 micrometers or 400 to 700 nanometers, the interval detected by the human eye is known as visible region (also referred as light).

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Region
Gamma Rays and X-Rays Visible Light Infrared Microwave

Wavelength
10-8 cm 400 to 700 nanometers 7 m to 1000 m 1 mm to 1 m

Infrared Region Far Infrared

Wavelength 15 to 1000 m
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Application / s 1. Sometimes called thermal infrared. 2. Hot objects (Black Body radiators) can radiate strongly in this range 1. Guided Missile Technology 2. To target aircrafts and so forth. 1. Physical processes that are relevant for this range are similar to those for visible light. 2. Fiber optic & night vision devices 4/6/
201

Mid Infrared

3 to 15 m

Near Infrared

0.78 to 3 m

Types of Computer Processes

Low Level Processes

Image Pre-Processing to Reduce Noise Contrast Enhancement

Contrast enhancement increases the total contrast of an image by making light colors lighter and dark colors darker at the same time

Image Sharpening Low Level Processes are characterized by the fact that its input and output are images

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Types of Computer Processes

Mid Level Processes

Segmentation (Partitioning an image into regions / objects Description of those objects to reduce them to a form suitable for computer processing, and classification of individual objects This process is characterized by the fact that its inputs are mostly images, but outputs are attributes extracted from those images
Identity of Individual objects

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Types of Computer Processes

High Level Processes

Involves Making Sense of an ensemble of recognized objects, as in image analysis, and, at the far end of continuum , performing the cognitive functions normally associated with vision

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Origin of Digital Image Processing

One of the first applications of digital images were in news agency. First picture was sent by submarine cable between London and New York Bartlaine Cable picture transmission system
was introduced in 1920

Bartlain systems were capable of coding in

five distinct level of gray. This capability was increased to 15 levels in 1929
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Origin of Digital Image Processing

Digital computers were introduced 1940s

CPU
A memory to hold stored program, and data Conditional Branching

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Origin of Digital Image Processing

The invention of transistor by bell laboratories in 1948. Development of high programming languages in 1950s and 1960s. The invention of integrated unit at Texas Instruments in 1958. The development of operating system 1960s The Development of micro-processors by Intel in 1970s.
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Transistor

A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals.

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Origin of Digital Image Processing

Personal Computers were introduced by IBM in 1981. Miniaturization of components were started with a large scale integration (LI) ,and the very large scale integration (VLSI) in 1980s.Currently, miniaturization process has reached to ultra large scale integration (ULSI) These Developments in information technology are fundamental requirements of Digital Image Processing (DIP).
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Origin of Digital Image Processing

1960s computer were powerful enough to carry out image processing tasks. Work on using computer techniques for improving images from a space probe began at the jet propulsion laboratory (California) in 1964 when the pictures of the moon transmitted by Ranger 7

These pictures were processed into the computer in order to eliminate various types of image distortions. Hence, the first picture of the moon was take on July 31, 1964 by Ranger 7 at 9:09 am.

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Pictures of the moon taken on July31,1964

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Pictures of the moon taken on July31,1964

Computerized Tomography (CT) technique introduced in 1970s made imaging techniques easy, especially in medical field where microwaves were generated to examine the skeleton. Computerized Tomography (CT) Technique is the process in which a ring of detectors encircles an object (or patient) and X-ray source rotates about the object.

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More Applications areas

Geographers Medicine and space program

Archeology
Industry Biological Sciences Astronomy__________________So forth

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Foundations for Applied GIS

Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Acquisition Image enhancement

Image Restoration
Color Image Processing Wavelets Compression Morphological Processing

Segmentation
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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Acquisition: The types of images in which we are interested are generated by the combination of an illumination source and the Reflection / Absorption of energy from that source by the elements of the scene being image.

Active / Passive image acquisition modes.

Using Single Sensor

Using Sensor Strips

Using Sensor Arrays
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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Enhancement:
The aim of image enhancement is to improve the
interpretability or perception of information in images for human viewers, or to provide `better' input for other automated image processing techniques.

Image enhancement techniques can be divided into two broad categories:

Spatial domain methods, which operate directly on pixels frequency domain methods, which operate on the Fourier transform of an image.
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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Enhancement:
Unfortunately, there is no general theory for determining what is `good' image enhancement when it comes to human perception. If it looks good, it is good! However, when image enhancement techniques are used as preprocessing tools for other image processing techniques, then quantitative measures can determine which techniques are most appropriate.

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Enhancement:

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Color Image Processing

The human visual system can distinguish hundreds of thousands of different color shades and intensities, but only around 100 shades of grey.

Therefore, in an image, a great deal of extra

information may be contained in the color, and this extra information can then be used to simplify image analysis, e.g. object identification and extraction based on color.
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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Color Image Processing

Three independent quantities are used to describe any
particular color.

Visible colors occur between about 400nm (violet) and

700nm (red) on the electromagnetic spectrum, as shown in figure

Color depends primarily

on the reflectance properties of an object

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Restoration
Digital image restoration is the process in which a noisy, blurred image is restored on the basis of a mathematical model. There are many sources of blurriness. In remote sensing and astronomical imaging due to longterm exposure through the atmosphere, where the turbulence in the atmosphere gives rise to random variations in the refractive index.

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Image Restoration

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Wavelets
A wavelet is a wave-like oscillation with an amplitude that starts out at zero, increases, and then decreases back to zero Wavelets are a mathematical tool that can be used to extract information from many different kinds of data

Provides the foundation to represent image at various degrees of resolution

Compression and Pyramiding Representation

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Wavelets

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Compression The term data compression refers to the process of reducing the amount of data required to represent a given quantity of information Data Vs. Information Image compression addresses the problem of reducing amount of data required to represent a digital image.

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Morphological Processing The word morphology commonly denotes the branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants. The word mathematical morphology is used as a tool for extracting image components that are useful in the representation and description of region shape, such as boundaries, skeletons, and the convex hull. This is also known as blob analysis / connectivity analysis

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Segmentation Refers to the process of partitioning a digital image into multiple segments (sets of pixels, also known as super pixels). The goal of segmentation is to simplify or change the representation of an image into something that is more meaningful and easier to analyze. Image segmentation is typically used to locate objects and boundaries (lines, curves, etc.) in images. This is the process of assigning a label to every pixel in an image such that pixels with the same label share certain visual characteristics.
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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Soil Segmentation

3D Segmentation of a human body

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Representation and description Follow the output of segmentation which is usually raw pixel data, constituting either the boundary of a region or as a complete region. Choosing a representation method is only the part of a solution for transforming raw data into a form suitable for computer processing.

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Representation and description

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Fundamental Steps in Digital Image Processing

Recognition Is the process to label an object based on its descriptors. Patterns recognition Quantitative description

Structural Description

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Buena Vista Basin, Wisconsin, USA

pattern analysis (cell-by-cell recharge estimation)

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Components of an Image Processing System

Foundations for Applied GIS

Components of an Image Processing System

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Components of an Image Processing System

Remote Sensing Process to acquire Images

Physical Device

Digitizer

Digital Image
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Components of an Image Processing System

In Digital Video Camera, the sensor produce an electrical output proportional to the light intensity. The digitizer convert these outputs to digital data.

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Components of an Image Processing System

Specialized Image Processing Hardware It consist of a digitizer, as mentioned in previous slides, and an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).

ALU is used to perform arithmetic and logical operation on digital images.

Fast processing speed is the chief characteristic of this unit. This system is ,sometimes, called Front-end subsystem.
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Components of an Image Processing System

The Computer In digital image processing, general purpose computers can range from PC to Supercomputers Better performance can be achieved through dedicated application in the computer system.

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Components of an Image Processing System

The Software Image Processing software / s consist of specialized modules that perform specific tasks. ILWIS ER Mapper

Erdas Imagine

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Components of an Image Processing System

Mass Storage Image processing applications require sound mass storage. Example: An image of 1024 by 1024 pixels, in which the intensity of each pixel is 8 bits, requires one mega byte to store that image (without being compressed)

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Components of an Image Processing System

Mass Storage Short Term Storage

Short Term storage for use during processing E.g...Computer Memory

On-Line Storage

Rapid access to one or more images (Frame Buffer Boards)

Allows instantaneous Zoom and Pan Options

Archival Storage

Is characterized by massive storage requirements but infrequent need of access.

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Components of an Image Processing System

Mass Storage 8 bits= 1 Byte

1000 bytes= 1 kilobytes

1 Mega Bytes= 1 Million Bytes Giga Bytes= 1 Billion Bytes 1 Tera Bytes= 1 Trillion Bytes.

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Components of an Image Processing System

Image Displays Image displays can be color / black & white

Image display and graphic cards are an integral part of a computer system

High-performance medical displays

which include high-speed medical

graphics cards as well as a reliable image management software.

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 Hardcopy Devices. Laser Printers

Film cameras
Heat Sensitive Devices Inkjet Units Digital Units (Optical and CD Rom Disks)

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Components of an Image Processing System

Networking Large amount of data

Bandwidth
Helpful to communicate remote sites

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Examples of field that use digital image processing

Foundations for Applied GIS

Basic Concepts of Universe

Matter

substances

Mixtures

Elements

Compounds

Homogeneous Mixtures

Heterogeneous Mixtures

Atoms

Molecules

Electron

Proton

Neutron
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Basic Concepts of Universe

Elements: It is purest and simplest form of matter and can be define as a substance which can not be split up into two or more simple substances.

Compounds: It is the purest but complex form of matter and can be defined as a substance formed by the combination of two or more elements in definite proportions.
Atom: It is the smallest particle of an element which can take part in chemical reaction.

Molecule: It is the smallest particle of a compound which can take part in chemical reaction.

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Basic Concepts of Universe

Electron: Negatively charged particle Proton: Positively charged particle

Neutron: Its a neutral particle

The electron is a subatomic particle carrying a negative electric charge.

It has no known components or substructure.

Therefore, the electron is generally believed to be an elementary particle.

An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton.

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Basic Concepts of Universe

Positron: It is antiparticle of electron

For example, the antiparticle of the electron is the positively charged anti-electron, or positron, which has same mass and opposite charge

When an electron collides with a positron, both particles may either scatter off each other or be totally annihilated, producing a pair (or more) of gamma ray photons. Isotopes: are variants of atoms of a particular chemical element, which have differing numbers of neutrons
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Applications
Gamma-ray Imaging X-ray Imaging

Imaging in the Ultra violet Band

Imaging in the visible and infrared bands Imaging in the microwave band Imaging in radio band

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Gamma-ray Imaging
Major uses of imaging include medicine and astronomical observation Images are produced from the emissions collected by gamma ray detectors.

Bone pathology Infections Tumors

Another nuclear modality (treatment) includes positron emission tomography.

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Gamma-ray Imaging
This technology is similar to the X-ray tomography Patients are treated through the emission of positrons When positron meets electron both are annihilated and gamma rays are given off.

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Gamma-ray Imaging

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X-ray Imaging
Oldest Source of imaging in EMS Being used in industry, medical fields, astronomy, and other areas. X-rays are generated through X-ray tube which is a vacuum tube with cathode and anode.

Cathode is an electrical conductor through which electric current flows.(Negative polarity)

Anode is an electrical conductor through which electric current flows.(Positive polarity)

Cathode is heated, causing free electron to be released.

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X-ray Imaging
These electron flow rapidly towards positively charged anode. Thus, the energy is released in the form of X-Rays.

Examples

Angiography Computerized Tomography

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X-ray Imaging

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Imaging in the ultra Violet Band

Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation of a different wavelength.

The minerals fluoresces (emission) When Ultra Violet energy is directed upon it.
Ultra violet is not visible but when the photon of ultraviolet collide with the electron of the material gives high energy to electron. Therefore, red light(visible) is produced.

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Imaging in the Ultra Violet Band

Mineralogy

Biological Imaging
Astronomy

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Imaging in the Visible and Infrared bands

The table shows the thematic bands of NASAs LANDSAT satellite The primary function of LANDSAT is to obtain and transmit images of the earth from space

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Imaging in the Visible and Infrared bands

Important area of visual processing is remote sensing which includes several bands in the visual and infrared regions of spectrum.

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Imaging in the Visible and Infrared bands

Infrared imagery as obtained by the Landsat satellite of upper Chesapeake Bay on 1972 October 11

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Imaging in the Visible and Infrared bands

Infrared imagery as obtained by the Landsat satellite of upper Chesapeake Bay on 1972 October 11

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Imaging in the Visible and Infrared bands

GOES image of eastern North America. Hurricane Diana, now a category III storm, churns off the coast of North Carolina. Within a few hours this storm became a Category IV before rapidly weakening. Maximum winds at time of photo were 110 knots.

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Imaging in the Visible and Infrared bands

TIROS-N view of Hurricane Diana churning off North Carolina coast. The storm had mercifully weakened to a Category II status at this time with 95 knot maximum sustained winds.

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