National Instruments markets plug-in digital signal processing (DSP) boards for Macintoshs and PC compatables that allow real-time acquisition and analysis at a personal computer. New software tools for DSP are allowing engineers to harness the power of this technology. The tools range from low-level debugging software to high-level block diagram development software. There are three levels of DSP programming associated with the NB-DSP2300 board and LabVIEW: Use of the NB-DSP2300 Analysis Library: FFTs, power spectra, filters routines callable from THINK C and Macintosh Programers Workshop (MPW) C that execute on the NB-DSP2300 board. There is an analysis Virtual Interface Library of ready-to-use VIs optimized for the NB-DSP2300.
Use of the National Instruments Developers Toolkit that includes an optimizing C compiler, an assembler and a linker for low-level programming of the DSP hardware. This approach offers the highest level of performance but is the must difficult in terms of ease of use.
Use of the National Instruments Interface Kit software package which has utility functions for memory management data communications and downloading code to the NB-DSP2300 board. (This is the easiest route for the development of custom code.)
Ultimage Concept VI addresses applications which require further qualitative and quantitative analysis. It includes a complete set of functions for image enhancement, histogram equalization, spatial and frequency filtering, isolation of features, thresholding, mathematical morphology analysis, density measurement, object counting, sizing and characterization.
The program loads images with a minimum resolution of 64 by 64, a pixel depth of 8, 16, or 32 bits, and one image plane. Standard input and output formats include PICT, TIFF, SATIE, and AIPD. Other formats can be imported.
Image enhancement features include lookup table transformations, spatial linear and non-linear filters, frequency filtering, arithmetic and logic operations, and geometric transformations, among others. Morphological transformations include erosion, dilation, opening, closing, hole removal, object separation, and extraction of skeletons, among others. Quantitative analysis provides for objects' detection, measurement, and morphological distribution. Measures include area, perimeter, center of gravity, moment of inertia, orientation, length of relevant chords, and shape factors and equivalence. Measures are saved in ASCII format. The program also provides for macro scripting and integration of custom modules.
A 3-D view command plots a perspective data graph where image intensity is depicted as mountains or valleys in the plot. The histogram tool can be plotted with either a linear or logarithmic scale. The twenty-eight arithmetic and logical operations provide for: masking and averaging sections of images, noise removal, making comparisons, etc. There are 13 spatial filters that alter pixel intensities based on local intensity. These include high-pass filters for contrast and outlines. The frequency data resulting from FFT analysis can be displayed as either the (real , imaginary ) components or the (phase, magnitude) data. The morphological transformations are useful for data sharpening and defining objects or for removing artifacts.
The transformations include: thresholding, eroding, dilating and even hole filling.
The program's quantitative analysis measurements include: area, perimeter, center of mass, object counts, and angle between points.
GTFS, Inc. 2455 Bennett Valley Road #100C Santa Rosa, CA 95494 707-579-1733
Spyglass, Inc. 701 Devonshire Drive Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 355-6000 fax: 217 355 8925
Data Translation, Inc. 100 Locke Dr. Marlboro, MA 01752 508-481-3700
Blue Solutions 3039 Marigold Place Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 805-492-9973
Perceptics 725 Pellissippi Parkway Knoxville, TN 37933 615-966-9200
In the documentation the contact address is given as:
Liz Smith, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 300-323, 4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, CA 91109 (818) 354-6980
Paragon Imagine 171 Lincoln St. Lowell, MA 01852 508-441-2112
For storage savings, the images can be compressed using standard algorithms, including externally supplied compression such as JPEG, availlable from Storm Technologies. The latest version of Adobe Photoshop supports the import of numerous image formats including: EPSF, EPSF, TIFF, PICT resource, Amiga IFF/ILBM, CompuServe GIF, MacPaint, PIXAR, PixelPaint, Scitex CT, TGA and ThunderScan..
Adobe Systems, Inc. 1585 Charlestown Road PO Box 7900 Mountain View, CA 94039-7900 415-961-4400
ImageStudio: Don't know...
Letraset USA 40 Eisenhower Drive Paramus, NJ 07653 201-845-6100
Dapple Systems, 355 W. Olive Ave, #100 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 408-733-3283
Silicon Beach Software 9770 Carroll Ctr. Rd., Suite J San Diego, CA 92126 619-695-6956
"Dimple runs on a colour Macintosh. It is a product still in its development phase.. i.e. it doesn't have all the inbuilt features of other packages, but is coming along nicely. It has its own inbuilt language for writing "programs" for processing an image, defining convolution filters etc. Dimple is a full mac application with pull down menus etc... It is unprotected software."
Process Software Solutions, PO Box 2110, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. 2500. Phone 61 42 261757 Fax 61 42 264190.
MicroFrontier 7650 Hickman Road Des Moines, IA 50322 515-270-8109
Image Analyst provides users with an array of field-proven video analysis techniques that enable them to easily assemble a sequence of instructions to enhance feature appearance; count objects; determine density, shape, size, position, or movement; perform object feature extraction; and conduct textural analysis automatically. Image Analyst works with either a framegrabber board and any standard video camera, or a disk-stored image.
Within minutes, without the need for programming, the Image Analyst user can set up a process to identify and analyze any element of a image. Measurements and statistics can be automatically or semi-automatically generated from TIFF or PICT files or from captured video tape images. Image Analyst recognizes items in images based on their size, shape and position. The tool provides direct support for the Data Translation and Scion frame grabbers. A menu command allows for image capture from a VCR video camera or other NTSC or PAL devices.
There are 2 types of files, the image itself and the related Sequence file that holds the processing, measurements and analysis that the user defines. Automated sequences are set up in Regions Of Interest (ROI) represented by movable, sizable boxes atop the image. Inside a ROI, the program can find the distance between two edges, the area of a shape, the thickness of a wall, etc. Image Analyst finds the center, edge and other positions automatically. The application also provides tools so that the user can work interactively to find the edge of object. It also supports histograms and a color look-up table (CLUT) tool.
Automatix, Inc. 775 Middlesex Turnpike Billerica, MA 01821 508-667-7900
Signal Analytics Corp. 374 Maple Ave. E Vienna, VA 22180 703-281-3277 FAX 703-281-2509
Note: I couldn't find it -- tom l.
ERDAS, Inc. 2801 Buford Highway Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30329 404-248-9000 FAX 404-248-9400
The latest version of PC-Vista, version 1.7, includes not only the source code and help files, but also a complete set of executable programs and a number of sample FITS images. If you do wish to use the source code, you will need Microsoft C, version 5.0 or later; other compilers may work, but will require substantial modifications.
To receive the documentation and nine double-density (360K) floppies (or three quad-density 3-1/2 inch floppies (1.44M) with everything on them, just send a request for PC-Vista, together with your name and a US-Mail address, to
Office of Technology Licensing 2150 Shattuck Ave., Suite 510 Berkeley, Ca. 94704Include a check (Traveller's Checks are fine) or purchase order for $150.00 in U.S. dollars, if your address is inside the continental U.S., or $165.00 otherwise, made out to Regents of the University of California to cover duplication and mailing costs.
MPA Australia (51 Lusher Road, Croydon, Victoria tel + 61 3 724 4488 fax +61 3 724 4455)There are educational and commercial prices, but be prepared to set aside $A10k for the first educational licence. Subsequent ones come cheaper (they need to!) It has installed sites worldwide. It is widely used at ANU.
Terra-Mar Resource Information Services, Inc.
1937 Landings Drive Mountain View, CA 94043 415-964-6900 FAX 415-964-5430
Apparently this is one of the de facto standards in the astronomical image community. They issue a newsletter also. They seem to support very well their users. Works with VMS also last I heard, and practically has its own shell on top of the VMS/Unix shells.
It's suggested that you get a copy of saoimage for display under X windows. Very flexible/extendable -- tons (literally 3 linear feet) of documentation for the general user, skilled user, and programmer.
Email to iraf@noao.edu for more details.
Links:
This package can read and write FITS data (see sci.astro.fits), and is primarily for reduction, analysis, and image enhancement of Radio Astronomy data from radio telescopes, particularly the Very Large Array (VLA), a synthesis instrument. It consists of almost 300 programs that do everything from copying data to sophisticated deconvolution, e.g. via maximum entropy. There is an X11-based Image tool (XAS) and a tek-compatible xterm-based graphics tool built into AIPS. The XAS tool is modelled after the hardware functionality of the International Imaging Systems model 70 display unit and can do image arithmetic, etc.
The code is mostly Fortran 77 with some system C language modules, and is available for Suns, IBM RS/6000, Dec/Ultrix, Convex, Cray (Unicos), and Alliant with support planned for HP-9000/7xx, Solaris 2.1, and maybe SGI.
There is currently a project - "AIPS++" - underway to rewrite the algorithmic functionality of AIPS in a modern setting, using C++ and an object oriented approach. Whereas AIPS is proprietary code (licensed for free to non-profit institutions) owner by NRAO and the NSF, AIPS++ will be in the public domain at some level, as it is an international effort with contributions from the US, Canada, England, the Netherlands, India, and Australia to name a few.
Note: LABOimage no longer available at ftp.ads.com
Contact: Prof. Thierry Pun, Computer Vision Group Computing Science Center, U-Geneva 12, rue du Lac, CH-1207 Geneva SWITZERLAND Phone : +41(22) 787 65 82; fax: +41(22) 735 39 05 E-mail: pun@cui.unige.ch or pun@cgeuge51.bitnet
Feature Description
DISIMP incorporates a rich library of image processing utilities and spatial data options. All functions can be easily accessed via the DISIMP executive. This menu is modular in design and groups image processes by their function. Such a logical structure means that complicated processes are simply a progression through a series of modules.
Processes include image rectification, classification (unsupervised and supervised), intensity transformations, three dimensional display and Principal Component Analysis. DISIMP also supports the more simple and effective enhancement techniques of filtering, band subtraction and ratioing.
Host Configuration Requirements
Running on UNIX workstations, DISIMP is capable of processing the more computational intensive techniques in interactive processing times. DISIMP is available in both Runtime and Programmer's environments. Using the Programmers environment, utilities can be developed for specific applications programs.
Graphics are governed by an icon-based Display Panel which allows quick enhancments of a displayed image. Manipulations of Look Up Tables, colour stretches, changes to histograms, zooming and panning can be interactively driven through this control.
A range of geographic projections enables DISIMP to integrate data of image, graphic and textual types. Images can be rectified by a number of coordinate systems, providing the true geographic knowledge essential for ground truthing. Overlays of grids, text and vector data can be added to further enhance referenced imagery.
The system is a flexible package allowing users of various skill levels to determine their own working environment, including the amount of help required. DISIMP comes fully configured with no optional extras. The purchase price includes all functionality required for professional processing of remote sensed data.
For further information, please contact:
The Business Manager CLOUGH Engineering Group Systems Division, 627 Chapel Street, South Yarra, Australia 3141. Telephone: +61 3 825 5555 Fax: +61 3 826 6463
It has no classification routines to speak of, but it isn't that difficult to write your own with their programmer's module.
Very small operation: one designs, one codes, one sells. Been around for a number of years, sold to Weather Service and Navy. Runs on HP9000 with HP-UX. Supports 24-bit display"
Feature description
HIPS is a set of image processing modules which together provide a powerful suite of tools for those interested in research, system development and teaching. It handles sequences of images (movies) in precisely the same manner as single frames.
Programs and subroutines have been developed for simple image transformations, filtering, convolution, Fourier and other transform processing, edge detection and line drawing manipulation, digital image compression and transmission methods, noise generation, and image statistics computation. Over 150 such image transformation programs have been developed. As a result, almost any image processing task can be performed quickly and conveniently. Additionally, HIPS allows users to easily integrate their own custom routines. New users become effective using HIPS on their first day.
HIPS features images that are self-documenting. Each image stored in the system contains a history of the transformations that have been applied to that image. HIPS includes a small set of subroutines which primarily deals with a standardized image sequence header, and a large library of image transformation tools in the form of UNIX ``filters''. It comes complete with source code, on-line manual pages, and on-line documentation.
Host Configuration Requirements
Originally developed at New York University, HIPS now represents one of the most extensive and flexible vision and image processing environments currently available. It runs under the UNIX operating system. It is modular and flexible, provides automatic documentation of its actions, and is almost entirely independent of special equipment. HIPS is now in use on a variety of computers including Vax and Microvax, Sun, Apollo, Masscomp, NCR Tower, Iris, IBM AT, etc. For image display and input, drivers are supplied for the Grinnell and Adage (Ikonas) image processors, and the Sun-2, Sun-3, Sun- 4, and Sun-386i consoles. We also supply user-contributed drivers for a number of other framestores and windowing packages (Sun gfx, Sun console, Matrox VIP-1024, ITI IP-512, Lexidata, Macintosh II, X windowing system, and Iris). The Hipsaddon package includes an interface for the CRS-4000. It is a simple matter to interface HIPS with other frame- stores, and we can put interested users in touch with users who have interfaced HIPS with the Arlunya and Datacube Max- Video. HIPS can be easily adapted for other image display devices because 98% of HIPS is machine independent.
Availability
HIPS has proven itself a highly flexible system, both as an interactive research tool, and for more production- oriented tasks. It is both easy to use, and quickly adapted and extended to new uses. HIPS is supplied on magnetic tape in UNIX tar format (either reel- to-reel or Sun cartridge), and comes with source code, libraries, a library of convolution masks, and on-line documentation and manual pages.
Michael Landy SharpImage Software P.O. Box 373, Prince Street Station New York, NY 10012-0007 Voice: (212) 998-7857 Fax: (212) 995-4011 msl@cns.nyu.edu
MIRA stands for Microcomputer Image Reduction and Analysis. MIRA gives workstation level performance on 386/486 DOS computers using SVGA cards in 256 color modes up to 1024x768. MIRA contains a very handsome/functional GUI which is mouse and keystroke operated. MIRA reads/writes TIFF and FITS formats, native formats of a number of CCD cameras, and uncompressed binary images in byte, short integer, and 4-byte real pixel format in 1- or 2- dimensions. The result of an image processing operation can be short integer or real pixels, or the same as that of the input image. MIRA does the operation using short or floating point arithmetic to maintain the precision and accuracy of the pixel format. Over 100 functions are hand-coded in assembly language for maximum speed on the Intel hardware. The entire graphical interface is also written in assembly language to maximize the speed of windowing operations. Windows for 2-d image and 1-d image/data display and analysis have dedicated cursors which read position and value value in real time as you move the mouse. There are also smooth, real time contrast and brightness stretch and panning of a magnified portion of the displayed image(s), all operated by the mouse. A wide selection of grayscale, pseudocolor, and random palettes is provided, and other palettes can be generated.
Supported functions include such niceties as the following:
Cost: 995 $USD/copy
Available from:
Axiom Research, Inc. Box 44162 Tucson, AZ 85733 (602) 791-2864 phone/fax.international marketing rep: Saguaro Scientific Corporation, Tucson, Arizona.
Developers: Laboratoire d'Optique Atmospherique (LOA) of the Universite de Lille, France Support and Questions: sphinx@loasil.citilille.fr