Image segmentation refers to the separation of objects from the background, and has been one of the most challenging aspects of digital image processing. Practically it is impossible to design a segmentation algorithm which has 100% accuracy, and therefore numerous segmentation techniques have been proposed in the literature, each with certain limitations. In this paper, a novel Falling-Ball algorithm is presented, which is a region-based segmentation algorithm, and an alternative to watershed transform (based on waterfall model). The proposed algorithm detects the catchment basins by assuming that a ball falling from hilly terrains will stop in a catchment basin. Once catchment basins are identified, the association of each pixel with one of the catchment basin is obtained using multi-criterion fuzzy logic. Edges are constructed by dividing image into different catchment basins with the help of a membership function. Finally closed contour algorithm is applied to find closed regions and objects within closed regions are segmented using intensity information. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated both objectively as well as subjectively. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms gives superior performance over conventional Sobel edge detection methods and the watershed segmentation algorithm. For comparative analysis, various comparison methods are used for demonstrating the superiority of proposed methods over existing segmentation methods.

中文翻译：

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一种新颖的落球图像分割算法

图像分割是指对象与背景的分离，并且一直是数字图像处理中最具挑战性的方面之一。实际上，不可能设计出精度为100％的分割算法，因此，文献中提出了许多分割技术，每种技术都有一定的局限性。本文提出了一种新颖的Falling-Ball算法，它是一种基于区域的分割算法，是分水岭变换的替代方法（基于瀑布模型）。所提出的算法通过假设从丘陵地带落下的球会停在集水盆地中来检测集水盆地。一旦识别出流域盆地，就可以使用多准则模糊逻辑获得每个像素与一个流域盆地的关联。在隶属函数的帮助下，通过将图像划分为不同的流域盆地来构造边缘。最终，采用封闭轮廓算法找到封闭区域，并使用强度信息对封闭区域内的对象进行分割。客观地和主观地评估了所提出算法的性能。仿真结果表明，与传统的Sobel边缘检测方法和分水岭分割算法相比，该算法具有更好的性能。为了进行比较分析，使用了各种比较方法来证明所提出的方法相对于现有分割方法的优越性。最终，采用封闭轮廓算法找到封闭区域，并使用强度信息对封闭区域内的对象进行分割。客观地和主观地评估了所提出算法的性能。仿真结果表明，与传统的Sobel边缘检测方法和分水岭分割算法相比，该算法具有更好的性能。为了进行比较分析，使用了各种比较方法来证明所提出的方法相对于现有分割方法的优越性。最终，采用封闭轮廓算法找到封闭区域，并使用强度信息对封闭区域内的对象进行分割。客观地和主观地评估了所提出算法的性能。仿真结果表明，与传统的Sobel边缘检测方法和分水岭分割算法相比，该算法具有更好的性能。为了进行比较分析，使用了各种比较方法来证明所提出的方法相对于现有分割方法的优越性。