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A Multigrid Algorithm for Maxflow and Min-Cut Problems with Applications to Multiphase Image Segmentation

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Abstract

In this paper, we propose a multiphase image segmentation method via solving the min-cut minimization problem under the multigrid method framework. At each level of the multigrid method for the min-cut problem, we first transfer it to the equivalent form, e.g., max-flow problem, then actually solve the dual of the max-flow problem. Particularly, a classical multigrid method is used to solve the sub-minimization problems. Several outer iterations are used for the multigrid method. The proposed idea can be used for general min-cut/max-flow minimization problems. We use multiphase image segmentation as an example in this work. Extensive experiments on simulated and real images demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method.

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Notes

  1. The models used in the FCM-L1 and SLaT methods are different, thus it is not meaningful to discuss the energy change.

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Acknowledgements

The work of Xue-Cheng Tai was supported by RG(R)-RC/17-18/02-MATH, HKBU 12300819, NSF/RGC Grant N-HKBU214-19 and RC-FNRA-IG/19-20/SCI/01. The work of Liang-Jian Deng was partially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China Grants 61702083, 61772003 and Key Projects of Applied Basic Research in Sichuan Province Grants 2020YJ0216. Besides, the work of Ke Yin was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant 11801200.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tsai, Hong Kong

    Xue-Cheng Tai

  2. School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China

    Liang-Jian Deng

  3. Center for Mathematical Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

    Ke Yin

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  1. Xue-Cheng Tai
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  2. Liang-Jian Deng
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  3. Ke Yin
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Correspondence to Liang-Jian Deng.

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Tai, XC., Deng, LJ. & Yin, K. A Multigrid Algorithm for Maxflow and Min-Cut Problems with Applications to Multiphase Image Segmentation. J Sci Comput 87, 101 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10915-021-01458-3

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