A semi-automatic seeded region growing algorithm for video object localization and tracking

This paper describes a semi-automatic method for moving object segmentation and tracking. This method is suitable when a few objects have to be tracked, while the camera moves and fixates on them. The user delineates approximately the initial locations in a selected frame and specifies the depth ordering of the objects to be tracked. First, motion-based segmentation is obtained through an initial application of a region growing algorithm. The partition map is sequentially tracked from frame to frame using motion compensation and location prediction. The segmentation map is obtained by the region growing algorithm. Translational motion is assumed for the moving objects, and local intensity or color average may be used as additional features. A post-processing procedure regularizes the object boundaries over time. r 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.