Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Multilevel threshold selection for image segmentation using soft computing techniques

  • Focus
  • Published:
Soft Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Multilevel thresholding is the method applied to segment the given image into unique sub-regions when the gray value distribution of the pixels is not distinct. The segmentation results are affected by factors such as number of threshold and threshold values. Hence, this paper proposes different methods for determining optimal thresholds using optimization techniques namely GA, PSO and hybrid model. Parallel algorithms are also proposed and implemented for these methods to reduce the execution time. From the experimental results, it is inferred that proposed methods take less time for determining the optimal thresholds when compared with existing methods such as Otsu and Kapur methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akay B (2013) A study on particle swarm optimization and artificial bee colony algorithms for multi level thresholding. Appl Soft Comput 13(6):3066–3091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akl SG (1990) The design and analysis of parallel algorithms. Prentice Hall of India, India

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali M, Ahn CW, Pant M (2014) Multi level image thresholding by synergetic differential evolution. Appl Soft Comput 17:1–11 (Elsevier)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Djerou L, Khelil N, Dehimi NH, Batouche M (2012) Automatic multi-level thresholding segmentation based on multi-objective optimization. J Appl Comput Sci Math (Suceava) 13(6):25–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg DE (1989) Genetic algorithms: search, optimization and machine learning. Addison, Wesley

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez RC, Woods RE (2008) Digital image processing. Prentice Hall, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammouche K, Diaf M, Siarry P (2008) A multilevel automatic thresholding method based on a genetic algorithm for a fast image segmentation. Comput Vision Image Underst 109:163–175 (Elsevier)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Indira SU, Ramesh A C (2011) Image segmentation using artificial neural network and genetic algorithm : a comparative analysis. In: International conference on Process automation, control and computing, Cimbatore, IEEE Conference Proceedings, pp 1–6

  • Kapur JN, Sahoo PK, Wong AKC (1985) A new method for gray-level picture thresholding using entropy of the histogram. Comput Vision Graph Image Process 29(3):273–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur J, Agrawal S, Vig R (2011) A comparative analysis of thresholding and edge detection segmentation techniques. Int J Comput Appl 39:29

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim BG, Shim JI, Park DJ (2003) Fast image segmentation based on multi-resolution analysis and wavelets. Pattern Recognit Lett 24:2995–3006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Parashar T, Verma G (2012) Gentic algorithm and DWT based multilevel automatic thresholding approach for vehicle extraction. Int J Soft Comput Eng (IJSCE) 2(2):17–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Lan J, Zeng Y (2013) Multi-threshold image segmentation using maximum fuzzy entropy based on a new 2D histogram. Optik 124(18):3756–3760 (Elsevier)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osuna-Enciso V, Cuevas E, Sossa H (2013) A comparison of nature inspired algorithms for multi threshold image segmentation. Expert Syst Appl 40:1213–1219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otsu N (1978) A threshold selection method from gray level histrogram. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern 8(1):62–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouadfel S, Meshoul S (2013) A fully adaptive and hybrid method for image segmentation using multilevel thresholding. Int J Image Graph Signal Process 1:46–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pei Z, Zhao Y, Liu Z (2009) Image segmentation based on differential evolution algorithm. In: International conference on image analysis and signal processing, Taizhou, IEEE Conference Proceedings, pp 48–51

  • Peng B, Zhang L, Zhang D (2011) Automatic image segmentation by dynamic region merging. IEEE Trans Image Process 20(12):3592–3605

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Sathya PD, Kayalvizhi R (2012) Comparison of intelligent techniques for multilevel thresholding problem. Int J Signal Imaging Syst Eng 5(1):43–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharif M, Fathy M, Tayefeh Mahmoudi M (2002) A classified and comparative study of edge detection algorithms. In: International conference on information technology: coding and computing (ITCC), IEEE Conference Proceedings

  • Sridevi M, Mala C, Sivasankar E, You I (2014) Optimized multilevel threshold selection using evolutionary computing. In: Interntional conference on Network based information system, Italy, accepted for publication in IEEE conference proceedings

  • Strang G, Nguyen T (1996) Wavelets and filter banks. Wellesley-Cambridge Press

  • Yen JC, Chang FJ, Chang S (1995) A new criterion for automatic multilevel thresholding. IEEE Trans Image Process 4:370–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin PY, Chen LH (1997) A fast iterative scheme for multilevel thresholding methods. Signal Process 60:305–313

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Zahara E, Fan SKS, Tsai DM (2005) Optimal multi thresholding using a hybrid optimization approach. Pattern Recognit Lett 26:1082–1095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang GM, Chen SP, Liao JN (2011) Otsu image segmentation algorithm based on morphology and wavelet transformation. In: Proceedings of International conference on computer research and development (ICCRD), vol 1. IEEE, Shanghai, pp 279–283

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Mala.

Additional information

Communicated by A. Jara, M. R. Ogiela, I. You and F.-Y. Leu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mala, C., Sridevi, M. Multilevel threshold selection for image segmentation using soft computing techniques. Soft Comput 20, 1793–1810 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-015-1677-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-015-1677-6

Keywords

Navigation