Image segmentation using watersheds and normalized cuts

Johan De Bock; Patrick De Smet; Wilfried Philips

doi:10.1117/12.586726

17 January 2005 Image segmentation using watersheds and normalized cuts

Johan De Bock, Patrick De Smet, Wilfried Philips

Proceedings Volume 5675, Vision Geometry XIII; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.586726
Event: Electronic Imaging 2005, 2005, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

The normalized cut algorithm is a graph partitioning algorithm that has previously been used successfully for image segmentation. It is originally applied to pixels by considering each pixel in the image as a node in the graph. In this paper we investigate the feasibility of applying the normalized cut algorithm to micro segments by considering each micro segment as a node in the graph. This will severely reduce the computational demand of the normalized cut algorithm, due to the reduction of the number of nodes in the graph. The foundation of the translation to micro segments will be the region adjacency graph. A floating point based rainfalling watershed algorithm will create the initial micro segmentation. We will first explain the rainfalling watershed algorithm. Then we will review the original normalized cut algorithm for image segmentation and describe the changes that are needed when we apply the normalized cut algorithm to micro segments. We investigate the noise robustness of the complete segmentation algorithm on an artificial image and show the results we obtained on photographic images. We also illustrate the computational demand reduction by comparing the running times.

Citation Download Citation

Johan De Bock, Patrick De Smet, and Wilfried Philips "Image segmentation using watersheds and normalized cuts", Proc. SPIE 5675, Vision Geometry XIII, (17 January 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.586726

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available