Fusion of color and edge information for improved segmentation and edge linking

We propose a new method for combined color image segmentation and edge linking. The image is first segmented based on color information only. The segmentation map is modeled by a Gibbs random field, to ensure formation of spatially contiguous regions. Next, spatial edge locations are determined using the magnitude of the gradient of the 3-channel image vector field. Finally, regions in the segmentation map are split and merged by a region-labeling procedure to enforce their consistency with the edge map. The boundaries of the final segmentation map constitute a linked edge map. Experimental results are reported. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.