Unsupervised segmentation of textured images using a hierarchical neural structure

Abstract

A hierarchical learning structure, combining a randomly-placed local window, a self-organising map and a local-voting scheme, has been developed for the unsupervised segmentation of textured images, which are modelled by Markov random fields. The system learns to progressively estimate model parameters, and hence classify the various textured regions. A globally correct segregation has consistently been obtained during extensive experiments on both synthetic and natural textured images.