Region growing is a simple region-based
image segmentation
In digital image processing and computer vision, image segmentation is the process of partitioning a digital image into multiple image segments, also known as image regions or image objects ( sets of pixels). The goal of segmentation is to simpl ...
method. It is also classified as a pixel-based image segmentation method since it involves the selection of initial
seed point
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosperm ...
s.
This approach to segmentation examines neighboring pixels of initial seed points and determines whether the pixel neighbors should be added to the region. The process is iterated on, in the same manner as general
data clustering
Cluster analysis or clustering is the task of grouping a set of objects in such a way that objects in the same group (called a cluster) are more similar (in some sense) to each other than to those in other groups (clusters). It is a main task of ...
algorithms. A general discussion of the region growing algorithm is described below.
Region-based segmentation
The main goal of segmentation is to partition an image into regions. Some segmentation methods such as
thresholding achieve this goal by looking for the boundaries between regions based on discontinuities in
grayscale
In digital photography, computer-generated imagery, and colorimetry, a grayscale image is one in which the value of each pixel is a single sample representing only an ''amount'' of light; that is, it carries only intensity information. Graysca ...
or
color
Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associ ...
properties. Region-based segmentation is a technique for determining the region directly. The basic formulation is:
:
:
:
:
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is a
logical predicate
In logic, a predicate is a symbol which represents a property or a relation. For instance, in the first order formula P(a), the symbol P is a predicate which applies to the individual constant a. Similarly, in the formula R(a,b), R is a predicat ...
defined over the points in set
and
is the null set.
(a) means that the segmentation must be complete; that is, every pixel must be in a region.
(b) requires that points in a region must be connected in some predefined sense.
(c) indicates that the regions must be disjoint.
(d) deals with the properties that must be satisfied by the pixels in a segmented region. For example,
if all pixels in
have the same grayscale.
(e) indicates that region
and
are different in the sense of predicate
.
Basic concept of seed points
The first step in region growing is to select a set of seed points. Seed point selection is based on some user criterion (for example, pixels in a certain grayscale range, pixels evenly spaced on a grid, etc.). The initial region begins as the exact location of these seeds.
The regions are then grown from these seed points to adjacent points depending on a region membership criterion. The criterion could be, for example, pixel intensity, grayscale
texture
Texture may refer to:
Science and technology
* Surface texture, the texture means smoothness, roughness, or bumpiness of the surface of an object
* Texture (roads), road surface characteristics with waves shorter than road roughness
* Texture (c ...
, or colour.
Since the regions are grown on the basis of the criterion, the image information itself is important. For example, if the criterion were a pixel intensity threshold value, knowledge of the
histogram
A histogram is an approximate representation of the distribution of numerical data. The term was first introduced by Karl Pearson. To construct a histogram, the first step is to " bin" (or "bucket") the range of values—that is, divide the ent ...
of the image would be of use, as one could use it to determine a suitable threshold value for the region membership criterion.
One can use
4-connected neighborhood
In image processing, pixel connectivity is the way in which pixels in 2-dimensional (or hypervoxels in n-dimensional) images relate to their neighbors.
Formulation
In order to specify a set of connectivities, the dimension N
and the width o ...
to grow from the seed points. An alternative for pixels adjacent relationship is the
8-connected neighborhood
In image processing, pixel connectivity is the way in which pixels in 2-dimensional (or hypervoxels in n-dimensional) images relate to their neighbors.
Formulation
In order to specify a set of connectivities, the dimension N
and the width ...
. Pixels adjacent to the seed points are examined and classified into the seed points if they have the same intensity value. It is an iterated process until there are no change in two successive iterative stages. Other criteria can be chosen; the main goal is to classify the similarity of the image into regions.
Important issues
Suitable selection of seed points
The selection of seed points is depending on the users. For example, in a grayscale lightning image, we may want to segment the lightning from the background. Then probably, we can examine the
histogram
A histogram is an approximate representation of the distribution of numerical data. The term was first introduced by Karl Pearson. To construct a histogram, the first step is to " bin" (or "bucket") the range of values—that is, divide the ent ...
and choose the seed points from the highest range of it.
More information of the image is better
Obviously, the connectivity or pixel adjacent information is helpful for us to determine the threshold and seed points.
Minimum area threshold
No region in region growing method result will be smaller than this threshold in the segmented image.
Similarity threshold value
If the difference of pixel-value or the difference value of average grayscale of a set of pixels less than “Similarity threshold value”, the regions will be considered as a same region.
The criteria of similarities or so called homogeneity we choose are also important. It usually depends on the original image and the segmentation result we want.
Some criteria often used are grayscale (average intensity or variance), color, and texture or shape.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
* Can correctly separate the regions that have the same properties we define.
* Can provide the original images which have clear edges with good segmentation results.
* Simple concept: only need a small number of seed points to represent the property we want, then grow the region.
* Can determine the seed points and the criteria we want to make.
* Can choose the multiple criteria at the same time.
* Theoretical very efficient due to visiting each pixel by a limited bound of times.
Disadvantages
* Unless image has had a threshold function applied, a continuous path of points related to color may exist, which connects any two points in the image.
* Practically random memory access slows down the algorithm, so adaption might be needed
See also
*
''k''-means clustering
*
Watershed (image processing) In the study of image processing, a watershed is a transformation defined on a grayscale image. The name refers metaphorically to a geological ''watershed'', or drainage divide, which separates adjacent drainage basins. The watershed transformation ...
Notes
{{Reflist
References
* Jian-Jiun Ding, The class of "''Time-Frequency Analysis and Wavelet Transform''", the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University (NTU), Taipei, Taiwan, 2007.
* Jian-Jiun Ding, The class of "''Advanced Digital Signal Processing''", the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University (NTU), Taipei, Taiwan, 2008.
* W. K. Pratt, ''Digital Image Processing 4th Edition'', John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Los Altos, California, 2007
* M. Petrou and P. Bosdogianni, ''Image Processing the Fundamentals'', Wiley, UK, 2004.
* R. C. Gonzalez and R.E. Woods, ''Digital Image Processing 2nd Edition'', Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2002.
Image segmentation