The very significant advances in computer vision and pattern recognition and their applications in the last few years reflect the strong and growing interest in the field as well as the many opportunities and challenges it offers. The second edition of this handbook represents both the latest progress and updated knowledge in this dynamic field. The applications and technological issues are particularly emphasized in this edition to reflect the wide applicability of the field in many practical problems. To keep the book in a single volume, it is not possible to retain all chapters of the first edition. However, the chapters of both editions are well written for permanent reference. This indispensable handbook will continue to serve as an authoritative and comprehensive guide in the field.

The very significant advances in computer vision and pattern recognition and their applications in the last few years reflect the strong and growing interest in the field as well as the many opportunities and challenges it offers. The second edition of this handbook represents both the latest progress and updated knowledge in this dynamic field. The applications and technological issues are particularly emphasized in this edition to reflect the wide applicability of the field in many practical problems. To keep the book in a single volume, it is not possible to retain all chapters of the first edition. However, the chapters of both editions are well written for permanent reference.

Across three volumes, the Handbook of Image Processing and Computer Vision presents a comprehensive review of the full range of topics that comprise the field of computer vision, from the acquisition of signals and formation of images, to learning techniques for scene understanding. The authoritative insights presented within cover all aspects of the sensory subsystem required by an intelligent system to perceive the environment and act autonomously. Volume 1 (From Energy to Image) examines the formation, properties, and enhancement of a digital image. Topics and features: • Describes the fundamental processes in the field of artificial vision that enable the formation of digital images from light energy • Covers light propagation, color perception, optical systems, and the analog-to-digital conversion of the signal • Discusses the information recorded in a digital image, and the image processing algorithms that can improve the visual qualities of the image • Reviews boundary extraction algorithms, key linear and geometric transformations, and techniques for image restoration • Presents a selection of different image segmentation algorithms, and of widely-used algorithms for the automatic detection of points of interest • Examines important algorithms for object recognition, texture analysis, 3D reconstruction, motion analysis, and camera calibration • Provides an introduction to four significant types of neural network, namely RBF, SOM, Hopfield, and deep neural networks This all-encompassing survey offers a complete reference for all students, researchers, and practitioners involved in developing intelligent machine vision systems. The work is also an invaluable resource for professionals within the IT/software and electronics industries involved in machine vision, imaging, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Cosimo Distante is a Research Scientist in Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition in the Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems (ISAI) at the Italian National Research Council (CNR). Dr. Arcangelo Distante is a researcher and the former Director of the Institute of Intelligent Systems for Automation (ISSIA) at the CNR. His research interests are in the fields of Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, Machine Learning, and Neural Computation.

Abstract Biological vision is a rather fascinating domain of research. Scientists of various origins like biology, medicine, neurophysiology, engineering, math ematics, etc. aim to understand the processes leading to visual perception process and at reproducing such systems. Understanding the environment is most of the time done through visual perception which appears to be one of the most fundamental sensory abilities in humans and therefore a significant amount of research effort has been dedicated towards modelling and repro ducing human visual abilities. Mathematical methods play a central role in this endeavour. Introduction David Marr's theory v^as a pioneering step tov^ards understanding visual percep tion. In his view human vision was based on a complete surface reconstruction of the environment that was then used to address visual subtasks. This approach was proven to be insufficient by neuro-biologists and complementary ideas from statistical pattern recognition and artificial intelligence were introduced to bet ter address the visual perception problem. In this framework visual perception is represented by a set of actions and rules connecting these actions. The emerg ing concept of active vision consists of a selective visual perception paradigm that is basically equivalent to recovering from the environment the minimal piece information required to address a particular task of interest.

This open access book provides the first comprehensive collection of studies dealing with the hot topic of digital face manipulation such as DeepFakes, Face Morphing, or Reenactment. It combines the research fields of biometrics and media forensics including contributions from academia and industry. Appealing to a broad readership, introductory chapters provide a comprehensive overview of the topic, which address readers wishing to gain a brief overview of the state-of-the-art. Subsequent chapters, which delve deeper into various research challenges, are oriented towards advanced readers. Moreover, the book provides a good starting point for young researchers as well as a reference guide pointing at further literature. Hence, the primary readership is academic institutions and industry currently involved in digital face manipulation and detection. The book could easily be used as a recommended text for courses in image processing, machine learning, media forensics, biometrics, and the general security area.

The book provides an up-to-date and authoritative treatment of pattern recognition and computer vision, with chapters written by leaders in the field. On the basic methods in pattern recognition and computer vision, topics range from statistical pattern recognition to array grammars to projective geometry to skeletonization, and shape and texture measures. Recognition applications include character recognition and document analysis, detection of digital mammograms, remote sensing image fusion, and analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data, etc.