107,885 research outputs found
Local Stereo Matching Using Adaptive Local Segmentation
We propose a new dense local stereo matching framework for gray-level images based on an adaptive local segmentation using a dynamic threshold. We define a new validity domain of the fronto-parallel assumption based on the local intensity variations in the 4-neighborhood of the matching pixel. The preprocessing step smoothes low textured areas and sharpens texture edges, whereas the postprocessing step detects and recovers occluded and unreliable disparities. The algorithm achieves high stereo reconstruction quality in regions with uniform intensities as well as in textured regions. The algorithm is robust against local radiometrical differences; and successfully recovers disparities around the objects edges, disparities of thin objects, and the disparities of the occluded region. Moreover, our algorithm intrinsically prevents errors caused by occlusion to propagate into nonoccluded regions. It has only a small number of parameters. The performance of our algorithm is evaluated on the Middlebury test bed stereo images. It ranks highly on the evaluation list outperforming many local and global stereo algorithms using color images. Among the local algorithms relying on the fronto-parallel assumption, our algorithm is the best ranked algorithm. We also demonstrate that our algorithm is working well on practical examples as for disparity estimation of a tomato seedling and a 3D reconstruction of a face
Analysis of 3D Face Reconstruction
This thesis investigates the long standing problem of 3D reconstruction from a single 2D face
image. Face reconstruction from a single 2D face image is an ill posed problem involving estimation of the intrinsic and the extrinsic camera parameters, light parameters, shape parameters
and the texture parameters. The proposed approach has many potential applications in the
law enforcement, surveillance, medicine, computer games and the entertainment industries.
This problem is addressed using an analysis by synthesis framework by reconstructing a 3D
face model from identity photographs. The identity photographs are a widely used medium for
face identi cation and can be found on identity cards and passports.
The novel contribution of this thesis is a new technique for creating 3D face models from a single
2D face image. The proposed method uses the improved dense 3D correspondence obtained
using rigid and non-rigid registration techniques. The existing reconstruction methods use the
optical
ow method for establishing 3D correspondence. The resulting 3D face database is used
to create a statistical shape model.
The existing reconstruction algorithms recover shape by optimizing over all the parameters
simultaneously. The proposed algorithm simplifies the reconstruction problem by using a step
wise approach thus reducing the dimension of the parameter space and simplifying the opti-
mization problem. In the alignment step, a generic 3D face is aligned with the given 2D face
image by using anatomical landmarks. The texture is then warped onto the 3D model by using
the spatial alignment obtained previously. The 3D shape is then recovered by optimizing over
the shape parameters while matching a texture mapped model to the target image.
There are a number of advantages of this approach. Firstly, it simpli es the optimization requirements and makes the optimization more robust. Second, there is no need to accurately
recover the illumination parameters. Thirdly, there is no need for recovering the texture parameters by using a texture synthesis approach. Fourthly, quantitative analysis is used for
improving the quality of reconstruction by improving the cost function. Previous methods use
qualitative methods such as visual analysis, and face recognition rates for evaluating reconstruction accuracy.
The improvement in the performance of the cost function occurs as a result of improvement
in the feature space comprising the landmark and intensity features. Previously, the feature
space has not been evaluated with respect to reconstruction accuracy thus leading to inaccurate
assumptions about its behaviour.
The proposed approach simpli es the reconstruction problem by using only identity images,
rather than placing eff ort on overcoming the pose, illumination and expression (PIE) variations.
This makes sense, as frontal face images under standard illumination conditions are widely
available and could be utilized for accurate reconstruction. The reconstructed 3D models with
texture can then be used for overcoming the PIE variations
Hybrid Fusion for Biometrics: Combining Score-level and Decision-level Fusion
A general framework of fusion at decision level, which works on ROCs instead of matching scores, is investigated. Under this framework, we further propose a hybrid fusion method, which combines the score-level and decision-level fusions, taking advantage of both fusion modes. The hybrid fusion adaptively tunes itself between the two levels of fusion, and improves the final performance over the original two levels. The proposed hybrid fusion is simple and effective for combining different biometrics
Orbital and Maxillofacial Computer Aided Surgery: Patient-Specific Finite Element Models To Predict Surgical Outcomes
This paper addresses an important issue raised for the clinical relevance of
Computer-Assisted Surgical applications, namely the methodology used to
automatically build patient-specific Finite Element (FE) models of anatomical
structures. From this perspective, a method is proposed, based on a technique
called the Mesh-Matching method, followed by a process that corrects mesh
irregularities. The Mesh-Matching algorithm generates patient-specific volume
meshes from an existing generic model. The mesh regularization process is based
on the Jacobian matrix transform related to the FE reference element and the
current element. This method for generating patient-specific FE models is first
applied to Computer-Assisted maxillofacial surgery, and more precisely to the
FE elastic modelling of patient facial soft tissues. For each patient, the
planned bone osteotomies (mandible, maxilla, chin) are used as boundary
conditions to deform the FE face model, in order to predict the aesthetic
outcome of the surgery. Seven FE patient-specific models were successfully
generated by our method. For one patient, the prediction of the FE model is
qualitatively compared with the patient's post-operative appearance, measured
from a Computer Tomography scan. Then, our methodology is applied to
Computer-Assisted orbital surgery. It is, therefore, evaluated for the
generation of eleven patient-specific FE poroelastic models of the orbital soft
tissues. These models are used to predict the consequences of the surgical
decompression of the orbit. More precisely, an average law is extrapolated from
the simulations carried out for each patient model. This law links the size of
the osteotomy (i.e. the surgical gesture) and the backward displacement of the
eyeball (the consequence of the surgical gesture)
Reference face graph for face recognition
Face recognition has been studied extensively; however, real-world face recognition still remains a challenging task. The demand for unconstrained practical face recognition is rising with the explosion of online multimedia such as social networks, and video surveillance footage where face analysis is of significant importance. In this paper, we approach face recognition in the context of graph theory. We recognize an unknown face using an external reference face graph (RFG). An RFG is generated and recognition of a given face is achieved by comparing it to the faces in the constructed RFG. Centrality measures are utilized to identify distinctive faces in the reference face graph. The proposed RFG-based face recognition algorithm is robust to the changes in pose and it is also alignment free. The RFG recognition is used in conjunction with DCT locality sensitive hashing for efficient retrieval to ensure scalability. Experiments are conducted on several publicly available databases and the results show that the proposed approach outperforms the state-of-the-art methods without any preprocessing necessities such as face alignment. Due to the richness in the reference set construction, the proposed method can also handle illumination and expression variation
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