Lockheed Martin Corporation

Colleen Flynn Gratsch

Harry Charles Lee

Melissa Wiedemann

Richard Skoblick

Larry Phurrough

A method and system for processing image data to identify objects in an image. Terrain types are identified in the image. A second image is generated identifying areas of the image which border regions of different intensities by identifying a gradient magnitude value for each pixel of the image. A filtered image is generated from the second image, the filtered image identifying potential objects which have a smaller radius than the size of a filter and a different brightness than background pixels surrounding the potential objects. The second image and the filtered image are compared to identify potential objects as an object. A potential object is identified as an object if the potential object has a gradient magnitude greater than a threshold gradient magnitude, and the threshold gradient magnitude is based on the terrain type identified in the portion of the image where the potential object is located.

Automatic image object identification using threshold gradient magnitude based on terrain type

A method and system for processing image data to identify objects in an image. A gradient vector image is generated from the image, the gradient vector image identifying a gradient magnitude value and a gradient direction for each pixel of the image. Lines are identified in the gradient vector image. It is determined whether the identified lines are perpendicular, whether more than a predetermined number of pixels on each of the lines identified as perpendicular have a gradient magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold, and whether the individual lines which are identified as perpendicular are within a predetermined distance of each other. A portion of the image is identified as an object if the identified lines are perpendicular, more than the predetermined number of pixels on each of the lines have a gradient magnitude greater than the predetermined threshold, and are within a predetermined distance of each other.

Method and apparatus for automatic object identification using identified perpendicular lines, gradient magnitudes and distances

A method and system for processing image data to identify objects in an image. The method and system operate using various resolutions of the image to identify the objects. Information obtained while processing the image at one resolution is employed when processing the image at another resolution. The method and system identify objects in the image based on the information obtained at the various resolutions of the image.

Method and apparatus for automatic object identification

A method and apparatus are provided for identifying linear objects in an image. Terrain types in the image are identified, and a gradient vector image, which identifies a gradient magnitude value and a gradient direction value for each pixel of the image, is generated from the image. Lines in the gradient vector image are identified using the identified terrain types in each portion of the image. It is determined whether the identified lines are perpendicular, collinear, or parallel to another line among the identified lines in the gradient vector image. Lines among the identified line are eliminated which are determined to not be perpendicular, collinear, or parallel to another line among the identified lines in the gradient vector image. Linear objects are identified using the remaining identified lines which have not been eliminated.

Method and apparatus for automatic linear object identification using identified terrain types in images

Method and apparatus for automatic identification of bodies of water

A method and system for processing image data to identify objects in an image. The method and system operate using various resolutions of the image to identify the objects. Information obtained while processing the image at one resolution is employed when processing the image at another resolution.

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Coca, FL, United States of America

Colleen Flynn Gratsch