Segmentation of nearly isotropic overlapped tracks in photomicrographs using successive erosions as watershed markers

Author(s)

de Siqueira, Alexandre Fioravante ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Nakasuga, Wagner Massayuki ^[2] ; Guedes, Sandro ^[2] ; Ratschbacher, Lothar ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] TU Bergakad, Inst Geol, Freiberg - Germany

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, IFGW, Dept Raios Cosm & Cronol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] IGDORE, Bali - Indonesia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE; v. 82, n. 10 JULY 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Introduction Procedures for measuring and counting tracks are time-consuming and involve practical problems. The precision of automatic counting methods is not satisfactory yet; the major challenges are distinguishing tracks and material defects, identifying small tracks and defects of similar size, and detecting overlapping tracks. Materials and Methods Here, we address the overlapping tracks issue using the algorithm Watershed Using Successive Erosions as Markers (WUSEM), which combines the watershed transform, morphological erosions and labeling to separate regions in photomicrographs. We tested this method in two data sets of diallyl phthalate (DAP) photomicrographs and compared the results when counting manually and using the classic watershed and H-watershed transforms. Results The mean automatic/manual efficiency counting ratio when using WUSEM in the test data sets is 0.97 +/- 0.11. Conclusion WUSEM shows reliable results when used in photomicrographs presenting almost isotropic objects. Also, diameter and eccentricity criteria may be used to increase the reliability of this method. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/24582-4 - RECOGNITION OF FISSION TRACKS ON MINERAL PHOTOMICROGRAPHS USING THE DUAL-TREE COMPLEX WAVELET TRANSFORM
• Grantee: Alexandre Fioravante de Siqueira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 14/22922-0 - Segmentation and recognition of fission tracks in photomicrographs from different materials using the wavelet transform
• Grantee: Alexandre Fioravante de Siqueira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral