A new operator for image structure analysis

• Published in: Proceedings of 3rd IEEE International Conference on Image Processing Vol. 3; pp. 615 - 618 vol.3
• Main Authors: Sukanya, P., Takamatsu, R., Sato, I.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1996
• Subjects: Computer vision; Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions; Face detection; Image analysis; Image reconstruction; Laboratories; Pixel; Robustness; Shape; Surface topography
• ISBN: 9780780332591; 0780332598
• DOI: 10.1109/ICIP.1996.560570

In this paper, we propose a new operator called shape operator for describing image structure. We consider an image function as a surface, then describe a shape of each pixel comparing with its neighbourhood in terms of topographical shapes such as hill, dale, ridge, valley, etc. The shape operator is established by utilizing the eigenvalues of Hessian of an image function. We show how to derive this operator, and its interesting properties. Finally, we illustrate by examples how the shape operator can give the same interpretation of an image although the image is corrupted by shading effects, and how it can give the same interpretation of an image viewed in different viewpoints.