Structural filtering with texture feature-based interaction maps: fast algorithm and applications

We have recently introduced a new tool for texture analysis called feature based interaction map (FBIM). The FBIM approach can be efficiently used to assess fundamental structural properties of textures such as anisotropy, symmetry, orientation and regularity. The FBIM is suitable for rotation-invariant texture classification of patterns with regular, weak regular, or linear structure. In this paper, we show how the interaction map can be applied as a structural filter for segmentation, detection of textured objects and texture defects, analysis of oriented structures and shape-from-texture. The power of the FBIM filter is in its unique capability to grasp the structure of pixel interactions typical for a given texture pattern. To efficiently use this capability, we propose a fast running implementation of the FBIM algorithm and present pilot experimental results demonstrating the potential of the FBIM approach in diverse tasks and applications