Perceptual Grouping of Continuation : Application for Satellite Images

We present a method of grouping edge elements upon the relation of smoothed continuity. This method is based upon the optimization of a quality function of curvature and edge intensity, from a local to a global level. It is implemented with a network of locally-connected processing elements. This method was rst designed to deal with dot images and then was applied to the problem of road extraction in satellite images. The extension to satellite images has been achieved by means of constraints from low level vision algorithms and a dynamic exploitation of results of the grouping process. This method copes with a complex combinatorial problem allowing an eecient and parallel solution to be found. Experimental results on synthesis and natural satellite images show the validity of the approach and its possible incorporation into general computer vision systems.