Edges and Lines

Abstract

Various principles for pre-processing methods which create edge images from gray-level images could be seen in Chapter 14. As already outlined in Sect. 14.1, further algorithms for edge detection and line segmentation exist. Some of them will be introduced in this chapter. Especially some line detection algorithms which are based on connecting edge elements will be discussed. The optimal line detector for a given edge image depends upon the image data and on the subsequent processing steps. There is, in general, no way of defining an universally optimal method for line segmentation. Which type of segmentation algorithm has to be used depends on the given application. Under certain assumptions, however, an optimal detector can be defined (Sect. 21.9).