Image Processing for Environmental Science: PROTINUS

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Pore network in the soil

PROTINUS “PROviding new insighT into INteractions between soil fUnctions and Structure” is financed in the framework of a H2020 project (MSCA Research and Innovation Staff Exchange). The project assembles a multi-disciplinary team from the EU and three associated countries, namely France, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Mexico and Japan, coming from Research Institute and Universities as well as private companies. These teams combine advanced, experimental and theoretical research expertise in soil physics and chemistry, microbiology, image analysis, computer sciences, and systems modelling.
Click here to go to the PROTINUS website.

Automatic Lip Tracking: Bayesian Segmentation and Active Contours In A Cooperative Scheme

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Automatic lip tracking

An algorithm for speaker’s lip contour extraction is presented here. A color video sequence
of speaker’s face is acquired, under natural lighting conditions and without any particular make-up.
First, a logarithmic color transform is performed from RGB to HI (hue, intensity) color space. A
statistical approach using Markov random field modelling helps to segment the mouth area, integrating red hue and motion into a spatiotemporal neighbourhood. Simultaneously, a Region Of Interest (ROI) and relevant boundaries points are automatically extracted. Next, an active contour using spatially varying coefficients is initialised with the results of the preprocessing stage. Performance of active contours are greatly improved when initialisation is close to the desired
features. Finally, an accurate lip shape with inner and outer borders is obtained with good quality
results in this challenging situation.
Click here to see the demo in our Demos page.