Digital Image Processing:
Adjacency Analysis
This presentation explores the concept of adjacency in digital image
processing, demonstrating how to determine the relationship between
pixel subsets using different adjacency rules. We will delve into the
definitions of 4-adjacency, 8-adjacency, and m-adjacency, and illustrate
these concepts with a step-by-step analysis of a specific example.
by Shubhajit Dutta
Understanding Adjacency Definitions
4-adjacency 8-adjacency
Two pixels are considered 4-adjacent if they share a Two pixels are 8-adjacent if they share a common edge or a
common edge. In other words, they are neighbors in either common corner. This means they can be neighbors in the
the horizontal or vertical direction. Think of them as horizontal, vertical, or diagonal directions. They can be
directly above, below, or beside each other. found in any direction surrounding the pixel in question.
Defining m-adjacency
m-adjacency The Importance of (V)
This adjacency rule combines aspects of both 4-adjacency The set (V) plays a crucial role in m-adjacency. It represents
and 8-adjacency. Two pixels are m-adjacent if they are a set of pixels that are considered "forbidden" in
either 4-adjacent or 8-adjacent. However, there's an determining m-adjacency. This set could include specific
additional condition: there must not be any pixel within a pixels with certain values or pixels that are already
predefined set (V) that is 4-adjacent to both of the considered "connected" in some other way. Essentially, (V)
considered pixels. defines the context within which we evaluate m-adjacency.
Our Example: Defining the
Subsets
Subset (S_1) Consists of pixels with value 1 at
positions: (1,3), (2,3), (3,3),
(3,4), (4,3), (4,4), (5,3), (5,4),
(5,5), (5,6), (5,7).
Subset (S_2) Consists of pixels with value 1 at
positions: (0,6), (0,7), (1,6),
(2,6), (4,6), (4,7), (5,6), (5,7).
Set (V) Consists of pixels with value 1.
Checking for 4-adjacency
We systematically examine each pixel in (S_1) against each pixel in
(S_2), looking for direct horizontal or vertical neighbors. If we find a pair
that meets this condition, we conclude that (S_1) and (S_2) are 4-
adjacent. However, after analyzing all possible combinations, we find
that no pixel in (S_1) is directly adjacent to a pixel in (S_2) horizontally
or vertically.
Checking for 8-adjacency
Now, we consider all possible combinations of pixels in (S_1) and (S_2),
taking into account both shared edges and shared corners. Notably, the
pixel at position (5,6) is present in both (S_1) and (S_2). Therefore, we
can conclude that (S_1) and (S_2) are 8-adjacent because they share at
least one pixel.
Applying the m-adjacency
Rule
Since (S_1) and (S_2) are 8-adjacent, we proceed to check if any pixel in
(V) is 4-adjacent to both a pixel from (S_1) and a pixel from (S_2). We
carefully examine the shared pixels between (S_1) and (S_2). In this
case, there are multiple shared pixels, and we confirm that no pixel with
value 1 (from (V)) is 4-adjacent to both a pixel from (S_1) and a pixel
from (S_2). Therefore, (S_1) and (S_2) are m-adjacent.
Visualizing Adjacency
Relationships
To visualize the relationships we've established, we can draw lines
connecting the pixels in (S_1) and (S_2), emphasizing their 8-adjacency
and m-adjacency. Additionally, we can use arrows to point to the pixels
that share common edges or corners, while also demonstrating that no
pixel from (V) is 4-adjacent to both a pixel from (S_1) and a pixel from
(S_2). This visualization provides a clear and intuitive representation of
the analyzed relationships.
Applications in Image
Processing
Understanding adjacency is crucial in various image processing tasks
such as image segmentation, where regions with similar properties are
grouped together. By analyzing the adjacency of pixels, we can identify
connected components within images and distinguish between separate
objects. This knowledge is also essential in algorithms like edge
detection and shape analysis, allowing us to efficiently analyze and
manipulate image data.
Key Takeaways and Next
Steps
We've explored the definitions of 4-adjacency, 8-adjacency, and m-
adjacency, which are fundamental concepts in image processing. We
demonstrated how to analyze the adjacency of pixel subsets in a step-
by-step approach. Moving forward, you can apply this knowledge to
more complex image processing tasks. Explore different types of
adjacency, analyze images with different (V) sets, and investigate the
impact of adjacency rules on various image processing algorithms.
