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

Agro-ento bioinformation: towards the edge of reality

Information communication has advanced from the fundamental universe-bio-physicschemistry probes to exploration of bioprocessing tangibles and intangibles. Bounded by such information advancement frames, domains of agro-forestry and entomology, and medicine, have witnessed progression through evolution, revolution, and bioinformation in their knowledge contents. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) paradigms steered the course of agro-forest and medical-industries during the 1800 and 1900 eras. IPM Concept is a synthetic framework that results from evolution, revolution, and presently bioformation in domains of agro-medico-ecological and anthropo-ecological activities. A chronological history of pest management parallels the history of industrial revolution and highlights man's attempts at dealing and living with the environment, arthropods and other pestly species. A cycle of progression from using natural controls to made-made utilities and back to enhancing of natural processes is evident as one walks through time and space of history during the development of civilization. IPM success demands usage and stringent compliance with ecological imperatives, which need to be lucidly expressed as knowledge precepts. Biological knowledge is at the forefront of this usage, especially with the new millennium becoming the Age of Biology. Consequently, bioinformation is commencing to thrive as a global entity, which revolutionizes and drives societal progress. Bioinformation, in brief, comprises biology, information algorithms, information technology, and communication protocols. Thus biology becomes a domain of information science. Attributes of bioinformation can be defined through its primers and profiles. The primers, which entrain processes, both natural and man-induced, include mechanisms such as protocols, algorithms, visualisations, and structural and visual designs. The protocols range from the molecular levels to domains of larger dimensions such as those encompassing fraternities of politics and policies, and societal applications. These protocols, algorithms, and visualisations undergo dynamic incubation processes to produce the end product, which is bioinformation. Entomology is an inherent component of this bioinformation revolution. The information communication technology linkages are exemplified through simulation, modelling, and visualization explorations

Action thresholds of wet rice arthropods for pest management decision-making in Malaysia

Action thresholds to aid pest population management decision-making of 11 categories of wet rice arthropods are suggested in terms of mean population density per hill (x) and proportion of infestation (P(I)) of the field sampling units. The thresholds are the (x) and P(I) values at the point of saturation of a polynomial regression curve obtained by plotting (x) against P(I) for each arthropod category. The respective values for pests are: 3.38, 0.92 (Nephotettix spp.), 6.28, 1.00 (Nilaparvata lugens), 1.37, 0.72 (Cnaphalocrocis medinalisPyralidae), 2.42, 0.90 (Recilia dorsalis), 3.81, 0.97 (Sogatella furcifera), and for predators are: 3.89, 0.98 (Cyrtorhinus lividipennis), 2.39, 0.85 (Anatrichus pygmaeus- Diptera), 2.02, 0.82 (Odonata), 1.65, 0.81 (Casnoidea sPP), 1.61, 0.64 (paederus fuscipes), and 1.60, 0.69 (spiders). P(I) is significantly (P<O.OOl) affected by arthropod category and growth stage of the crop. The observed pel) indicated high fits (most i>0.90) to clumped- and Poisson-based distribution models

Traveling Using Mass Rapid System : A Comparative Study Of Blind Searching Strategies

Comparative study of blind and heuristic searching techniques are investigated for Kuala Lumpur mass rapid system. High volume of traffics and people made the mass rapid system such as Light Rail Transit (LRT), a likely candidate to use in daily life. However, since there are quite a number of transportation modes available, making choices may not be easy. The best travelling direction in terms of the least number of nodes traversed need to be ascertained before starting the journey. This research analyze the efficacy of blind search strategies namely breadth of search and depth of search to discover the best route to travel. The best route is defined as the shortest path that one should travel to reach his destination

The application of electro-coagulation in biodiesel wastewater treatment

A large quantity of oily wastewater is generated by biodiesel refineries which results in terrible environmental pollution and resource utilization problems. This wastewater must be treated before being released into the environment due to it normally rich in biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) which usually have damaging and harmful effects on plants, sea, river as well as surface and groundwater sources. Conventional biodiesel wastewater treatment methods such as gravity separation and skimming, air flotation, coagulation, de-emulsification and flocculation, posses several disadvantages including high operation cost, low efficiency, corrosion and recontamination problems. Indeed, most of these conventional methods unable to remove the micron or submicron sized oil droplets efficiently. Currently, new processes for efficient and adequate treatment of various industrial wastewaters with relatively low operating costs have been developed to meet the strict environmental regulations. At this point, the electrocoagulation process has attracted a great deal of attention in treating industrial wastewaters because of its versatility and environmental compatibility. Therefore, in this chapter, the advatages and application of electro-coagulation techniques were reviewed and discussed