Object segmentation based on split and merge algorithm

Image segmentation is a feverish issue as it is a challenging job and most digital imaging applications require it as a preprocessing step. Among various algorithms, although split and merge (SM) algorithm is highly lucrative because of its simplicity and effectiveness in segmenting homogeneous regions, however, it is unable to segment all types of objects in an image using a general framework due to not most natural objects being homogeneous. Addressing this issue, a new algorithm namely object segmentation based on split and merge algorithm (OSSM) is proposed in this paper considering image feature stability, inter- and intra-object variability, and human visual perception. The qualitative analysis has been conducted and the segmentation results are compared with the basic SM algorithm and a shape-based fuzzy clustering algorithm namely object based image segmentation using fuzzy clustering (OSF). The OSSM algorithm outperforms both the SM and the OSF algorithms and hence increases the application area of segmentation algorithms.