Abstract: PR4883, PII: S0031-3203(13)00327-0
Two-dimensional shape models have been successfully applied to solve many problems in computer vision, such as object tracking, recognition, and segmentation. Typically, 2D shape models are learned from a discrete set of image landmarks (corresponding to projection of 3D points of an object), after applying Generalized Procustes Analysis (GPA) to remove 2D rigid transformations. However, the
standard GPA process suffers from three main limitations. Firstly, the 2D training samples do not necessarily cover a uniform sampling of all the 3D transformations of an object. This can bias the estimate of the shape model. Secondly, it can be computationally expensive to learn the shape model by sampling 3D transformations. Thirdly, standard GPA methods use only one reference shape, which can might be insufficient to capture large structural variability of some objects.
To address these drawbacks, this paper proposes continuous generalized Procrustes analysis (CGPA).
CGPA uses a continuous formulation that avoids the need to generate 2D projections from all the rigid 3D transformations. It builds an efficient (in space and time) non-biased 2D shape model from a set of 3D model of objects. A major challenge in CGPA is the need to integrate over the space of 3D rotations, especially when the rotations are parameterized with Euler angles. To address this problem, we introduce the use of the Haar measure. Finally, we extended CGPA to incorporate several reference shapes. Experimental results on synthetic and real experiments show the benefits of CGPA over GPA.

Abstract: Results of ICDAR 2017 Robust Reading Challenge on Omnidirectional Video are presented. This competition uses Downtown Osaka Scene Text (DOST) Dataset that was captured in Osaka, Japan with an omnidirectional camera. Hence, it consists of sequential images (videos) of different view angles. Regarding the sequential images as videos (video mode), two tasks of localisation and end-to-end recognition are prepared. Regarding them as a set of still images (still image mode), three tasks of localisation, cropped word recognition and end-to-end recognition are prepared. As the dataset has been captured in Japan, the dataset contains Japanese text but also include text consisting of alphanumeric characters (Latin text). Hence, a submitted result for each task is evaluated in three ways: using Japanese only ground truth (GT), using Latin only GT and using combined GTs of both. Finally, by the submission deadline, we have received two submissions in the text localisation task of the still image mode. We intend to continue the competition in the open mode. Expecting further submissions, in this report we provide baseline results in all the tasks in addition to the submissions from the community.

Abstract: Deep learning has made significant advances in recent years, and as a result, it is now in a stage where it can achieve outstanding results in tasks requiring visual understanding of scenes. However, its performance tends to decline when dealing with low-quality images. The advent of super-resolution (SR) techniques has started to have an impact on the field of remote sensing by enabling the restoration of fine details and enhancing image quality, which could help to increase performance in other vision tasks. However, in previous works, contradictory results for scene visual understanding were achieved when SR techniques were applied. In this paper, we present an experimental study on the impact of SR on enhancing aerial scene classification. Through the analysis of different state-of-the-art SR algorithms, including traditional methods and deep learning-based approaches, we unveil the transformative potential of SR in overcoming the limitations of low-resolution (LR) aerial imagery. By enhancing spatial resolution, more fine details are captured, opening the door for an improvement in scene understanding. We also discuss the effect of different image scales on the quality of SR and its effect on aerial scene classification. Our experimental work demonstrates the significant impact of SR on enhancing aerial scene classification compared to LR images, opening new avenues for improved remote sensing applications.

Abstract: We present a generic framework for object segmentation using depth maps based on Random Forest and Graph-cuts theory, and apply it to the segmentation of human limbs in depth maps. First, from a set of random depth features, Random Forest is used to infer a set of label probabilities for each data sample. This vector of probabilities is used as unary term in α-β swap Graph-cuts algorithm. Moreover, depth of spatio-temporal neighboring data points are used as boundary potentials. Results on a new multi-label human depth data set show high performance in terms of segmentation overlapping of the novel methodology compared to classical approaches.

Abstract: High mental workload reduces human performance and the ability to correctly carry out complex tasks. In particular, aircraft pilots enduring high mental workloads are at high risk of failure, even with catastrophic outcomes. Despite progress, there is still a lack of knowledge about the interrelationship between mental workload and brain functionality, and there is still limited data on flight-deck scenarios. Although recent emerging deep-learning (DL) methods using physiological data have presented new ways to find new physiological markers to detect and assess cognitive states, they demand large amounts of properly annotated datasets to achieve good performance. We present a new dataset of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings specifically collected for the recognition of different levels of mental workload. The data were recorded from three experiments, where participants were induced to different levels of workload through tasks of increasing cognition demand. The first involved playing the N-back test, which combines memory recall with arithmetical skills. The second was playing Heat-the-Chair, a serious game specifically designed to emphasize and monitor subjects under controlled concurrent tasks. The third was flying in an Airbus320 simulator and solving several critical situations. The design of the dataset has been validated on three different levels: (1) correlation of the theoretical difficulty of each scenario to the self-perceived difficulty and performance of subjects; (2) significant difference in EEG temporal patterns across the theoretical difficulties and (3) usefulness for the training and evaluation of AI models.