Volumetric Image Analysis

Volumetric, or three-dimensional, digital imaging now plays a vital role in many areas of research such as medicine and geology. Medical images acquired by tomographic scanners for instance are often given as a stack of cross-sectional image slices. Such images are called 'volumetric' because they depict objects in their entire three-dimensional extent rather than just as a projection onto a two-dimensional image plane. Since huge amounts of volumetric data are continually being produced in many places around the world, techniques for their automatic analysis become ever more important. Written by a computer vision specialist, this clear, detailed account of volumetric image analysis techniques provides a practical approach to the field including the following topics:

• preprocessing of volumetric images
• obtaining quantitative measurements in volumetric images
• detection and modelling of objects in volumetric images

To students without prior knowledge of computer vision this book will serve as a self-contained comprehensive introduction. Experienced practitioners and researchers will find it a helpful reference and a source of high level case material.

Diese ausführliche Einführung in die Volumetrische Bildanalyse - einem sich rasch entwickelnden Forschungszweig - spiegelt alle Hauptaspekte des Themas wider und erläutert die Beziehung zu anderen Arten der Bildanalyse. Hier wird die umfassende mathematische Analyse verbunden mit der Beschreibung medizinischer und seismischer Anwendungsmöglichkeiten. (10/97)

Preface ix

Acknowledgements xi

1 Introduction 1

Part I: 3D Binary Images 7

2 Basics 9

3 Features of 3D Components 43

4 Operations on 3D Binary Images 61

Part II: 3D Grey Level Images 103

5 Image Enhancement 105

6 Geometric Transformations of Voxel Images 117

7 Surface Segmentation 129

8 Region Segmentation 169

Part III: Modelling and Registration of Objects 177

9 Surface Tiling 181

10 Surface Reconstruction 193

11 Registration 203

Appendix 215

A Displaying Volumetric Images 215

References 225

Index 241

PART I: 3D BINARY IMAGES: Basics;
Features of 3D Components;
Operations on 3D Binary Images;
PART II: 3D GREY LEVEL IMAGES: Image Enhancement;
Geometric Transformations of Voxel Images;
Surface Segmentation;
Region Segmentation;
PART III: MODELING AND REGISTRATION OF OBJECTS: Surface Tiling;
Surface Reconstruction;
Registration? Appendix;
Displaying Volumetric Images;
Bibliography;
Index.

Gabriele Lohmann is the author of Volumetric Image Analysis, published by Wiley.

Volumetric digital images are three-dimensional image arrays corresponding to a stack of two-dimensional slices, produced for instance by a tomographic scanner. Such images play an important role in various applications, especially in medical image processing, in the processing of seismic data and in many other domains. Written by a computer vision specialist, this clear, detailed account of volumetric image analysis techniques provides a practical approach to the field including the following topics: preprocessing of volumetric images, obtaining quantitative measurements in volumetric images, detection and modelling of objects in volumetric images.