Aspects of imaging science

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The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) describes aspects of imaging science as an applied discipline [see:http://www.cis.rit.edu/content/view/44/104/].

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The field of Imaging Science encompasses a very wide range of subject areas, from the physics of light sources to the psychophysics of high-level visual perception and its impact on cognition. From how light is generated to how the world is perceived, Imaging Science addresses questions about every aspect of systems and techniques that are used to create, perceive, analyze, and optimize images. Application areas of imaging are equally diverse. Thus, Imaging Science is both truly interdisciplinary in its content and multi-disciplinary in its applications. Imaging Science includes the following characteristics:

• Development of imaging systems to answer fundamental questions in astrophysics – probing the origin and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole.

• Application in biomedicine and inner worlds – where imaging is used to non-invasively diagnose disease, to develop therapies and to track the success of treatment, to track the spread of disease across regions; applications in bioinformatics, genomics and unique signatures of biological organisms or individuals.

• Scientific imaging applications to enable the reading and reconstruction of ancient documents, such as the Archimedes Palimsest.

• Studies closely related field of color science and its application to display systems (Cathode Ray Tubes, CRTs, Liquid Crystal Display, LCDs, printers, holographic projection), as well as restoration of works of art to the original palette used by the painter.

• Visual perception – the way in which we as humans use our own imaging system --- our eyes and the computer that is our brain --- to perceive the world around us and to enable us, as a species or group to take decisive actions, as individuals or as group of people, to take actions, with confidence, and speed.

• Advanced imaging algorithms, including data fusion and visualization techniques, and imaging database design and development that allow full exploitation of imaging data. Includes image chain analysis of system components, modeling and simulation techniques to estimate performance of a imaging system, and the value of information obtained or to be expected.

• Remote sensing - the use of satellite, airborne, or distributed sensor systems for purposes ranging from environmental science to supporting national security concerns for events that are occurring or have occurred over long periods of time in the past, to recall changes over time. Remote sensing research is particularly broad area which involves many aspects of Imaging Science. It includes algorithm development for applications to environmental forecasting, for example to monitor and predict changes in our water (streams, lakes, rivers, oceans). Remote sensing systems and critical algorithms are used for monitoring and emergency response, be it natural (e.g., forest fires) or anti-social observables including, criminal actions, terrorism, activities leading to war, or consequences of actions, including warfare at different levels of conflict. The need for timely and accurate information and intelligence from remote sensing systems is a particularly critical area of attention for Imaging Science.

• Studying imaging on the smallest scales of matter and energy is a rapidly emerging area on the frontiers of science – This includes nano-imaging, and involves collaboration with researchers in the fields as diverse as nano-power, biophysics, and materials science, where their need to image is driving their research.

• Next generation detector and sensor systems that have greater sensitivity to the wider range of the electromagnetic spectrum, to provide images of greater spatial and temporal resolution, to see the unseen, discover the unknown.

• Proof of concepts including deploying integrated imaging systems for emergency response, and wildlife fire fighting; includes security systems for reconnaissance and surveillance applications, for intermittent collection or persistent observations, and to support automated responses (decision support for warnings or actions).