By

Nikhil Joy
Roll No. 16
S7 EC BETA
1) Introduction
2) Edge Detection Algorithm
3) Gradient Operator
4) Commonly Used Operators
5) Edge Detection Flow Diagram
6) Applications
7) References
8) Acknowledgement









The ability to measure gray-level transitions
in a meaningful way.



Edge detection refers to the process of
identifying and locating sharp
discontinuities in an image.



The discontinuities are abrupt changes in
pixel intensity which characterize
boundaries of objects in a scene.
ORIGINAL IMAGE AFTER EDGE DETECTION

Most information in an image resides along
edges.

Preprocessing operation that narrows down
search in feature detection.

Filters out useless information, while
preserving the important structural
properties in an image.



Basic step for many important areas, such
as machine vision and automated
interpretation systems.

Used as the front-end processing stage for
higher level object recognition and
interpretation systems.
Classical methods :
Involves measuring the gray level transitions.

Done by determining the gradient of the
image(first derivative).

If gradient exceeds a particular threshold
then it is an edge.

If it does not exceed the threshold then edge not
detected.






2.1 Grey Level Transitions
IDEAL RAMP
2.2 The First Derivative
ORIGINAL FIRST DERIVATIVE
2.3.1 Detecting the Edge (A)
( ) y x I ,
( )
x
y x I
c
c ,
TRSH
( )
Detected Edge TRSH
x
y x I
>
c
c ,
ORIGINAL FIRST DERIVATIVE
2.3.1 Detecting the Edge (B)
( ) y x I ,
ORIGINAL
( )
x
y x I
c
c ,
TRSH
( )
Detected Not Edge TRSH
x
y x I
<
c
c ,
3. Gradient Operators





The gradient of the image I(x,y) at location (x,y), is
the vector:



The magnitude of the gradient:


The direction of the gradient vector:



( )
( )
(
(
(
(

c
c
c
c
=
(

= V
y
y x I
x
y x I
G
G
I
y
x
,
,
| |
2 2
y x
G G I I + = V = V
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

y
x
G
G
y x
1
tan , u
3.1 The Meaning of the Gradient
It represents the direction of the strongest variation
in intensity.
Horizontal Vertical
Edge
Strength:

Edge
Direction:
Generic
( ) 0 , =
= V
y x
G I
x
u
( )
2
,
t
u =
= V
y x
G I
y
| |
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
+ = V

x
y
y x
G
G
y x
G G I
1
2 2
tan , u
For calculating the gradient there are a
number of Operators used.

Some of these operators are:

SOBEL Operator

ROBERTS Cross Operator

PREWITT Operator




1 2 1
0 0 0
-1 -2 -1
-1 0 1
-2 0 2
-1 0 1
( ) ( )
9 8 7 3 2 1
2 2 z z z z z z G
y
+ + + + ~ ( ) ( )
7 4 1 9 6 3
2 2 z z z z z z G
x
+ + + + ~
0 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 -1
0 0 0
0 0 1
0 -1 0
9 5
z z G
x
~
8 6
z z G
y
~
1 1 1
0 0 0
-1 -1 -1
-1 0 1
-1 0 1
-1 0 1
( ) ( )
9 8 7 3 2 1
z z z z z z G
y
+ + + + ~
( ) ( )
9 6 3 7 4 1
z z z z z z G
x
+ + + + ~
The image is convolved with a Gaussian
filter before gradient evaluation.

It uses two thresholds, and enables the
detection of two edge types: strong and
weak edge.

Image
File
Display
Edge
Detection
Script
RGB
to
Grayscale

Face detection

Automated interpretation systems

Machine vision

Video
in
Video
out Edge
Detection
Video Screen Camera
1. E. Argyle. Techniques for edge detection, Proc. IEEE, vol. 59, pp.
285-286, 1971

R.C. Gonzales & R. E. Woods Digital Image Processing, 2nd
Edition, TATA McGraw Hill, 2001

J. Matthews. An introduction to edge detection: The sobel edge
detector, Available at:
http://www.generation5.org/content/2002/im01.asp, 2002.

J. F. Canny. A computational approach to edge detection. IEEE
Trans. Pattern Anal. Machine Intell., vol.PAMI-8, no. 6, pp. 679-697,
1986
I thank God Almighty for all His blessings. I would
like to express my profound gratitude to all the
people who have inspired and motivated me to
undertake this seminar.
I would like to thank Prof. Asha Panicker, Head of
the Department for her unending support and
encouragement. I am deeply indebted to her for
providing me with valuable advice and guidance
during the course of the seminar.
I express my extreme gratitude and sincere thanks
to our class teacher Mr. Sreeraj K.P. for for his
support and guidance.