Recognition of digital curves scanned from paper drawings using genetic algorithms

After analyzing the existing methods, based on holo-extraction method of information, this paper develops a recognition method of digital curves scanned from paper drawings for subsequent pattern recognition and 3D reconstruction. This method is first to construct the networks of single closed region (SCRs) of black pixels with all the information about both segments and their linking points, to classify all the digital contours represented by SCRs into three types: straight-line segments, circular arcs, and combined lines, and then to decompose the combined lines into least basic sub-lines or segments (straight-line segments or circular arcs) with least fitting errors using genetic algorithms with adaptive probabilities of crossover and mutation and to determine their relationships (intersecting or being tangential to each other). It is verified that the recognition method based on the networks of SCRs and the genetic algorithm is feasible and efficient. This method and its software prototype can be used as a base for further work on subsequent engineering drawing understanding and 3D reconstruction. (C) 2002 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.