Unsupervised image segmentation using a hierarchical clustering selection process

Abstract

In this paper we present an unsupervised algorithm to select the most adequate grouping of regions in an image using a hierarchical clustering scheme. Then, we introduce an optimisation approach for the whole process. The grouping method presented is based on the maximisation of a measure that represents the perceptual decision. The whole strategy takes profit from a hierarchical clustering to find a maximum of the proposed criterion. The algorithm has been used to segment real images as well as multispectral images achieving very accurate results on this task. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.