Early vision processing using a multi-stage diffusion process

The use of a multistage diffusion process in the early processing of range data is examined. The input range data are interpreted as occupying a volume in 3-D space. Each diffusion stage simulates the process of diffusing part of the boundary of the volume into the volume. The outcome of the process can be used for both discontinuity detection and segmentation into shape homogeneous regions. The process is applied to synthetic noise-free and noisy step, roof, and valley edges as well as to real range images.<
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