Recent Trends in Digital Image Processing

DIGITALLY ADVANCED

R Srivaramangai, head, department of information technology, University of Mumbai, on the recent trends in digital image processing

 

The world has witnessed a major change in the way computing systems are used, especially to process images. Digital image processing (DIP) is a prominent area of research in the field of information technology that helps process digital images captured through various modalities using computing algorithms.

Image processing has been revolutionised, thanks to its versatile applications and scalability. It not only helps enhance images for better human interpretation, but also allows processing images for storage and retrieval to be used for different representations and analysis. DIP techniques are generally versatile, reliable, and accurate and have the additional benefit of being easier to implement than analog forms.

DIP observes size, colour, shape and texture of objects under consideration to gain detailed insights about an image. Basic domain knowledge is an important aspect when studying DIP. Image processing methods are numerous and varied, and are used as reuired in different fields. Techniques that were once computationally prohibitive are now becoming easily accessible because of DIP.

The application of DIP pervades through various domains such as medicine and biology, multimedia, robotics, remote sensing, bio-metrics, etc. Off late, DIP is also being used in the above mentioned areas for the following functions:

l To analyse the gene expressions of the DNA microarray images

2. Development of powerful algorithms for analysing multimedia data from digital evidences to take decisions in information forensics

3. DIP plays an important role in the medical field. The prominent areas where DIP is extensively used are in the diagnosis and detection of various diseases using images obtained through x-rays, CT-scan, MRI, PET scan, etc

4. Archaeologists are approaching computer scientists to help them develop their findings through excavations using archived photographs

5. Remote sensing is a major area where image processing plays a crucial role in predicting natural calamities as well as in day-to-day weather and climatic conditions

A number of researches have been conducted and applications are developed, based on these research reports, to combine DIP with other fields of computer science such as genetic algorithms, neural networks and fuzzy systems, etc. It is important for students and professionals in the field of DIP to conduct further research that will help create an adaptable and resilient technology paving the way for a new, easy and cost effective method of decision making based on digital images. 

— As told to Anishaa Sahijwala

Source | Times of India | 20 January 2014