Fuzzy directional enlacement landscapes for the evaluation of complex spatial relations. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clément, Michaël; Kurtz, Camille; Wendling, Laurent
• Is Part Of: Pattern recognition. Volume 101(2020:May)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Evaluation of spatial relations -- Fuzzy directional landscapes -- Enlacement -- Surrounding; Pattern perception -- Periodicals; Perception des structures -- Périodiques; Patroonherkenning; 006.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.patcog.2019.107185
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-3203

Abstract

Highlights: We address the issue of evaluating complex spatial relations such as the surrounding and enlacement of objects. We propose a generic fuzzy landscape approach that allows evaluation of such complex configurations in a directional fashion. An emphasis is put on the robustness of the approach with regards to geometrical transformations. Experimental results illustrate the behavior and the interest of this model in different cases. Abstract: Structural spatial relations between image components are fundamental in the human perception of image similarity, and constitute a challenging topic in the domain of image analysis. By definition, some specific relations are ambiguous and difficult to formalize precisely by humans. In this work, we deal with the issue of evaluating complex spatial configurations, where objects can surround each other, potentially with multiple levels of depth. Based on a recently introduced spatial relation called enlacement, which generalizes the idea of surrounding for arbitrary objects, we propose a fuzzy landscape model that allows both to visualize and evaluate this relation directly in the image space, following different directions. Experiments on several characteristic examples highlight the interest and the behavior of this approach, allowing for rich interpretations of these complex spatial configurations.