One possible solution to the increased amount of paper generated by mankind over recent years is to use the computer and its associated possibility of storing digital information. Through digitisation, the image of a paper can be stored in a digital file. With the development of new storage mediums with even larger capacity and faster access times, it is possible to put a complete collection of books in a single DVD or a small flash drive. This brought forth a possible solution to the problem of carrying and copying the information. But as new opportunities appear to us, we create new possibilities and new problems with them. In this way, carrying and copying moved away from being the centre of the problem. This book covers the main aspects of document analysis and processing, including digitisation, storage, thresholding, filtering, segmentation and automatic recognition.

This text reviews the issues involved in handling and processing digital documents. Examining the full range of a document’s lifetime, the book covers acquisition, representation, security, pre-processing, layout analysis, understanding, analysis of single components, information extraction, filing, indexing and retrieval. Features: provides a list of acronyms and a glossary of technical terms; contains appendices covering key concepts in machine learning, and providing a case study on building an intelligent system for digital document and library management; discusses issues of security, and legal aspects of digital documents; examines core issues of document image analysis, and image processing techniques of particular relevance to digitized documents; reviews the resources available for natural language processing, in addition to techniques of linguistic analysis for content handling; investigates methods for extracting and retrieving data/information from a document.

This book brings all the major and frontier topics in the field of document analysis together into a single volume, creating a unique reference source that will be invaluable to a large audience of researchers, lecturers and students working in this field. With chapters written by some of the most distinguished researchers active in this field, this book addresses recent advances in digital document processing research and development.

Documents, such as drawings, memos and specifications, form an essential function in the design and construction industry. Throughout the lifecycle of a built asset, starting from an initial design idea, right through to a final built form and its ongoing management, thousands, even millions of documents can be used to convey various forms of information to a range of interested parties. In many ways, therefore, the success of a design, or construction-based company, relies upon an understanding of the use of documents, as well as the technologies and techniques that are used to create them. The Digital Document provides an extensive background to the issues and technologies surrounding this very important topic. It examines a technical subject in an insightful manner that is neither intimidating nor confusing, even to the novice computer user. By introducing the subject through a series of preliminary reviews of current practices and essential computing technologies, the reader is able to better appreciate the benefits and capabilities of a wide range of digital document types. This book explores the role of documents in a professional practice, examines the components, capabilities, viability, and use of digital documents in the design and construction industry, and identifies and explains many of the standards in use today. In order to facilitate a better understanding of digital document technologies, a number of essential reviews are provided including: - the definition and purpose of a document - how documents are typically used by design professionals - the nature of the digital document environment - the data types which make up digital documents The Digital Document is an essential reference for the architect, engineer or design professional that wants to find out more about effective communication in the digital workplace. Bruce Duyshart is an IT Project Manager with Lend Lease Corporation and specialises in the development and implementation of digital media and information management technologies on design and construction projects. He holds a Masters degree in Architecture and is also an academic associate of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. He has written numerous papers on emerging technologies in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, and has developed Internet web sites for the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and Architecture Media.

From the participation of researchers in most important international conferences in the field, it is noted that activities in automatic document processing have been continuously growing. This book is an edited volume in Digital Document Processing where the chapters are written by several internationally renowned researchers in the domain. It will be useful for both students and researchers working on various aspects of document image analysis and recognition problems. It contains chapters on topics that are not covered by any textbook, but are more futuristic like “Going beyond the Myth of Paperlessness”, or interesting application areas like “The Role of Document Image Analysis in Trustworthy Elections” as well as “Word Recognition for Museum Index Cards with SNT-Grid”. Persons developing document analysis software for industry may also find the chapters useful and attractive. The language of the chapters is simple and clear, along with drawings/diagrams wherever necessary. An adequate number of references are given at the end of each chapter. Overall, the book is highly readable and will be an asset to the community. Renowned contributors include George Nagy, Hiromichi Fujisawa, F Kimura, D Lopresti, Chew Lim Tan, S Uchida, Thierry Paquet, Laurent Heutte, V Govindaraju, R Manmatha.

Libraries as social and service-based institutions are constantly seeking innovative and effective ways to meet the needs of their users and maintain relevance amidst alternative information sources. They are constantly adjusting to meet the needs of users, contribute to the personal development of users, and alight with national development. All of these have placed a burden on libraries to engage in sustainable practices both to increase their capacity to drive current developmental endeavors and to sustain future relevance. Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices provides a rich and robust knowledge resource that brings together diverse sustainable library practices that will revamp library operations towards optimally meeting the current objectives of libraries as a developmental institution as well as sustaining value for future operations and service transactions. Covering topics such as access efficacy, green space development, and library service delivery, this premier reference source is an essential resource for librarians, library administrators, educators and administration of both K-12 and higher education, students of library sciences, pre-service teachers, researchers, and academicians.