Knowledge based interpretation of images: a biomedical perspective

Abstract

AbstractThe traditions of image processing and knowledge engineering have developed separately. Work on AI vision systems lies between the two traditions but only recently has attention been given to combining practical imaging systems with methods for exploiting knowledge in interpreting the contents of an image. Five general approaches to combining knowledge based expert systems with imaging technologies are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the requirement for techniques which transform a pixel array into a symbolic form suitable for interpretation, and current obstacles to a general solution. Interpretation of biomedical images is particularly problematic because of statistical, structural and temporal variation in morphology of objects and structures. Some ways in which knowledge of shape, structure, and object classifications may contribute to this interpretation are discussed. The survey focuses on biomedical images but many of the issues are of general relevance to work in image understanding.