Title: Robust Object Segmentation using Split-and-Merge

Authors: A.B.M. Faruquzzaman, Nafize Rabbani Paiker, Jahidul Arafat, M. Ameer Ali, Golam Sorwar

Addresses: Military Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh. ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Prime University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. ' Military Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh. ' Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, East West University, 43 Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh. ' Information Technology Unit, School of Commerce and Management, Southern Cross University, Australia

Abstract: In spite of simplicity and effectiveness in segmenting homogeneous regions in an image, Split-and-Merge (SM) algorithm is unable to segment all types of objects due to huge number of objects with myriad variations among them and due to high dependability on the threshold values used in splitting and merging techniques. Addressing these issues, a novel Robust Object Segmentation using Split-and-Merge (ROSSM) is proposed in this paper considering image feature stability, inter- and intra-object variability, and human visual perception. The qualitative analysis proves the superior performance of ROSSM in comparison with the basic SM algorithm and a recently developed shape-based fuzzy clustering algorithm namely Object-based image Segmentation using Fuzzy clustering (OSF).

Keywords: split-and-merge; object segmentation; stable region; inter-object variability; intra-object variability; fuzzy clustering; image feature stability; human visual perception; image segmentation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSISE.2009.029332

International Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.70 - 80

Published online: 19 Nov 2009 *

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