Algorithm for Traversing a Branched Contour in a Digital Image

Abstract: The retrieval of the objects extracted through digital image segmentation from image databases, as well as their classification based on shape, currently constitutes one of the most important research topics in the field of digital image analysis. Efficient retrieval of similar shapes from image databases requires highly accurate shape descriptions. At the same time, shape representations must remain invariant to translation, rotation, and scaling transformations. This paper considers the problem of contour-based shape description. In this article, an original contour tracing algorithm which is capable of handling both non-branching and branching contours is presented.

Keywords: Digital image, Shape description, Branch, Non-branch, Contour tracing algorithm.