High-scale edge study for segmentation and contour closing in presence of textured and/or noisy areas

This paper is based on the study of high-scale edges . In non-textured and non-noisy areas a high-scale edge detector gives long , rather isolated and well localized contours, whereas in textured and/or noisy areas it gives numerous, short or long and ramified contours wich are close to one another. To formalize these characteristics, we have defined attributes upon the edges and their neighborhoods . The neighborhoods are defined as the Voronoi diagram built from the edges . The attributes are geometric, topological, or textural . The latter ones consis t in distances between textures on either side of the edge . Algorithms are then presented to remove edges due to noise or texture , and to extend the others . Since they use local attributes, they give promising solutions to the problem of edge detection and contou r closing for images of various types, even those including textured, noisy parts . Another application of these features is the buildin g of maps of texture/noise, which can be used to perform a segmentation method cooperation .Cet article présente une étude de contours haute-échelle. Dans les zones non texturées et non bruitées d'une image, un détecteur haute-échelle donne des contours plutôt longs, isolés et bien localisés, alors que dans les zones texturées et/ou bruitées il fournit de nombreux contours courts ou longs et ramifiés, proches les uns des autres. Pour formuler ces caractéristiques, nous avons défini des attributs sur les contours et leurs voisinages. Les voisinages sont définis par le diagrame de Voronoï construit à partir des contours. Les attributs sont géométriques, topologiques ou relatifs à la texture. Ces derniers consistent en des distances entre textures de part et d'autre des contours. Des algorithmes sont alors présentés pour supprimer les contours dus au bruit ou à la texture et pour prolonger les autres. Puisque les attributs sont locaux, ces solutions sont valables pour la détection et la fermeture de contours sur des types d'images différents, même celles incluant des zones texturées ou buitées. Une autre application de ces attributs concerne l'élaboration de cartes de texture/bruit, qui peuvent servir pour une coopération de méthodes de segmentation

Restoration of Videos Degraded by Local Isoplanatism Effects in the Near-Infrared Domain

When observing a scene horizontally at a long distance in the near-infrared domain, degradations due to atmospheric turbulence often occur. In our previous work, we presented two hybrid methods to restore videos degraded by such local perturbations. These restoration algorithms take advantages of a space-time Wiener filter and a space-time regularization by the Laplacian operator. Wiener and Laplacian regularization results are mixed differently depending on the distance between the current pixel and the nearest edge point. It was shown that a gradation between Wiener and Laplacian areas improves results quality, so that only the algorithm using a gradation will be used in this article. In spite of a significant improvement in the obtained images quality, our restoration results greatly depend on the segmentation image used in the video processing. We then propose a method to select automatically the best segmentation image

Amoeba Techniques for Shape and Texture Analysis

Morphological amoebas are image-adaptive structuring elements for morphological and other local image filters introduced by Lerallut et al. Their construction is based on combining spatial distance with contrast information into an image-dependent metric. Amoeba filters show interesting parallels to image filtering methods based on partial differential equations (PDEs), which can be confirmed by asymptotic equivalence results. In computing amoebas, graph structures are generated that hold information about local image texture. This paper reviews and summarises the work of the author and his coauthors on morphological amoebas, particularly their relations to PDE filters and texture analysis. It presents some extensions and points out directions for future investigation on the subject.Comment: 38 pages, 19 figures v2: minor corrections and rephrasing, Section 5 (pre-smoothing) extende

Two and three dimensional segmentation of multimodal imagery

The role of segmentation in the realms of image understanding/analysis, computer vision, pattern recognition, remote sensing and medical imaging in recent years has been significantly augmented due to accelerated scientific advances made in the acquisition of image data. This low-level analysis protocol is critical to numerous applications, with the primary goal of expediting and improving the effectiveness of subsequent high-level operations by providing a condensed and pertinent representation of image information. In this research, we propose a novel unsupervised segmentation framework for facilitating meaningful segregation of 2-D/3-D image data across multiple modalities (color, remote-sensing and biomedical imaging) into non-overlapping partitions using several spatial-spectral attributes. Initially, our framework exploits the information obtained from detecting edges inherent in the data. To this effect, by using a vector gradient detection technique, pixels without edges are grouped and individually labeled to partition some initial portion of the input image content. Pixels that contain higher gradient densities are included by the dynamic generation of segments as the algorithm progresses to generate an initial region map. Subsequently, texture modeling is performed and the obtained gradient, texture and intensity information along with the aforementioned initial partition map are used to perform a multivariate refinement procedure, to fuse groups with similar characteristics yielding the final output segmentation. Experimental results obtained in comparison to published/state-of the-art segmentation techniques for color as well as multi/hyperspectral imagery, demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method. Furthermore, for the purpose of achieving improved computational efficiency we propose an extension of the aforestated methodology in a multi-resolution framework, demonstrated on color images. Finally, this research also encompasses a 3-D extension of the aforementioned algorithm demonstrated on medical (Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Computed Tomography) volumes

Scalable Realtime Rendering and Interaction with Digital Surface Models of Landscapes and Cities

Interactive, realistic rendering of landscapes and cities differs substantially from classical terrain rendering. Due to the sheer size and detail of the data which need to be processed, realtime rendering (i.e. more than 25 images per second) is only feasible with level of detail (LOD) models. Even the design and implementation of efficient, automatic LOD generation is ambitious for such out-of-core datasets considering the large number of scales that are covered in a single view and the necessity to maintain screen-space accuracy for realistic representation. Moreover, users want to interact with the model based on semantic information which needs to be linked to the LOD model. In this thesis I present LOD schemes for the efficient rendering of 2.5d digital surface models (DSMs) and 3d point-clouds, a method for the automatic derivation of city models from raw DSMs, and an approach allowing semantic interaction with complex LOD models. The hierarchical LOD model for digital surface models is based on a quadtree of precomputed, simplified triangle mesh approximations. The rendering of the proposed model is proved to allow real-time rendering of very large and complex models with pixel-accurate details. Moreover, the necessary preprocessing is scalable and fast. For 3d point clouds, I introduce an LOD scheme based on an octree of hybrid plane-polygon representations. For each LOD, the algorithm detects planar regions in an adequately subsampled point cloud and models them as textured rectangles. The rendering of the resulting hybrid model is an order of magnitude faster than comparable point-based LOD schemes. To automatically derive a city model from a DSM, I propose a constrained mesh simplification. Apart from the geometric distance between simplified and original model, it evaluates constraints based on detected planar structures and their mutual topological relations. The resulting models are much less complex than the original DSM but still represent the characteristic building structures faithfully. Finally, I present a method to combine semantic information with complex geometric models. My approach links the semantic entities to the geometric entities on-the-fly via coarser proxy geometries which carry the semantic information. Thus, semantic information can be layered on top of complex LOD models without an explicit attribution step. All findings are supported by experimental results which demonstrate the practical applicability and efficiency of the methods

Large-Scale Textured 3D Scene Reconstruction

Die Erstellung dreidimensionaler Umgebungsmodelle ist eine fundamentale Aufgabe im Bereich des maschinellen Sehens. Rekonstruktionen sind für eine Reihe von Anwendungen von Nutzen, wie bei der Vermessung, dem Erhalt von Kulturgütern oder der Erstellung virtueller Welten in der Unterhaltungsindustrie. Im Bereich des automatischen Fahrens helfen sie bei der Bewältigung einer Vielzahl an Herausforderungen. Dazu gehören Lokalisierung, das Annotieren großer Datensätze oder die vollautomatische Erstellung von Simulationsszenarien. Die Herausforderung bei der 3D Rekonstruktion ist die gemeinsame Schätzung von Sensorposen und einem Umgebunsmodell. Redundante und potenziell fehlerbehaftete Messungen verschiedener Sensoren müssen in eine gemeinsame Repräsentation der Welt integriert werden, um ein metrisch und photometrisch korrektes Modell zu erhalten. Gleichzeitig muss die Methode effizient Ressourcen nutzen, um Laufzeiten zu erreichen, welche die praktische Nutzung ermöglichen. In dieser Arbeit stellen wir ein Verfahren zur Rekonstruktion vor, das fähig ist, photorealistische 3D Rekonstruktionen großer Areale zu erstellen, die sich über mehrere Kilometer erstrecken. Entfernungsmessungen aus Laserscannern und Stereokamerasystemen werden zusammen mit Hilfe eines volumetrischen Rekonstruktionsverfahrens fusioniert. Ringschlüsse werden erkannt und als zusätzliche Bedingungen eingebracht, um eine global konsistente Karte zu erhalten. Das resultierende Gitternetz wird aus Kamerabildern texturiert, wobei die einzelnen Beobachtungen mit ihrer Güte gewichtet werden. Für eine nahtlose Erscheinung werden die unbekannten Belichtungszeiten und Parameter des optischen Systems mitgeschätzt und die Bilder entsprechend korrigiert. Wir evaluieren unsere Methode auf synthetischen Daten, realen Sensordaten unseres Versuchsfahrzeugs und öffentlich verfügbaren Datensätzen. Wir zeigen qualitative Ergebnisse großer innerstädtischer Bereiche, sowie quantitative Auswertungen der Fahrzeugtrajektorie und der Rekonstruktionsqualität. Zuletzt präsentieren wir mehrere Anwendungen und zeigen somit den Nutzen unserer Methode für Anwendungen im Bereich des automatischen Fahrens

Bridging the gap between reconstruction and synthesis

Aplicat embargament des de la data de defensa fins el 15 de gener de 20223D reconstruction and image synthesis are two of the main pillars in computer vision. Early works focused on simple tasks such as multi-view reconstruction and texture synthesis. With the spur of Deep Learning, the field has rapidly progressed, making it possible to achieve more complex and high level tasks. For example, the 3D reconstruction results of traditional multi-view approaches are currently obtained with single view methods. Similarly, early pattern based texture synthesis works have resulted in techniques that allow generating novel high-resolution images. In this thesis we have developed a hierarchy of tools that cover all these range of problems, lying at the intersection of computer vision, graphics and machine learning. We tackle the problem of 3D reconstruction and synthesis in the wild. Importantly, we advocate for a paradigm in which not everything should be learned. Instead of applying Deep Learning naively we propose novel representations, layers and architectures that directly embed prior 3D geometric knowledge for the task of 3D reconstruction and synthesis. We apply these techniques to problems including scene/person reconstruction and photo-realistic rendering. We first address methods to reconstruct a scene and the clothed people in it while estimating the camera position. Then, we tackle image and video synthesis for clothed people in the wild. Finally, we bridge the gap between reconstruction and synthesis under the umbrella of a unique novel formulation. Extensive experiments conducted along this thesis show that the proposed techniques improve the performance of Deep Learning models in terms of the quality of the reconstructed 3D shapes / synthesised images, while reducing the amount of supervision and training data required to train them. In summary, we provide a variety of low, mid and high level algorithms that can be used to incorporate prior knowledge into different stages of the Deep Learning pipeline and improve performance in tasks of 3D reconstruction and image synthesis.La reconstrucció 3D i la síntesi d'imatges són dos dels pilars fonamentals en visió per computador. Els estudis previs es centren en tasques senzilles com la reconstrucció amb informació multi-càmera i la síntesi de textures. Amb l'aparició del "Deep Learning", aquest camp ha progressat ràpidament, fent possible assolir tasques molt més complexes. Per exemple, per obtenir una reconstrucció 3D, tradicionalment s'utilitzaven mètodes multi-càmera, en canvi ara, es poden obtenir a partir d'una sola imatge. De la mateixa manera, els primers treballs de síntesi de textures basats en patrons han donat lloc a tècniques que permeten generar noves imatges completes en alta resolució. En aquesta tesi, hem desenvolupat una sèrie d'eines que cobreixen tot aquest ventall de problemes, situats en la intersecció entre la visió per computador, els gràfics i l'aprenentatge automàtic. Abordem el problema de la reconstrucció i la síntesi 3D en el món real. És important destacar que defensem un paradigma on no tot s'ha d'aprendre. Enlloc d'aplicar el "Deep Learning" de forma naïve, proposem representacions novedoses i arquitectures que incorporen directament els coneixements geomètrics ja existents per a aconseguir la reconstrucció 3D i la síntesi d'imatges. Nosaltres apliquem aquestes tècniques a problemes com ara la reconstrucció d'escenes/persones i a la renderització d'imatges fotorealistes. Primer abordem els mètodes per reconstruir una escena, les persones vestides que hi ha i la posició de la càmera. A continuació, abordem la síntesi d'imatges i vídeos de persones vestides en situacions quotidianes. I finalment, aconseguim, a través d'una nova formulació única, connectar la reconstrucció amb la síntesi. Els experiments realitzats al llarg d'aquesta tesi demostren que les tècniques proposades milloren el rendiment dels models de "Deepp Learning" pel que fa a la qualitat de les reconstruccions i les imatges sintetitzades alhora que redueixen la quantitat de dades necessàries per entrenar-los. En resum, proporcionem una varietat d'algoritmes de baix, mitjà i alt nivell que es poden utilitzar per incorporar els coneixements previs a les diferents etapes del "Deep Learning" i millorar el rendiment en tasques de reconstrucció 3D i síntesi d'imatges.Postprint (published version