UPDATED 
Image Quality: Industry Standards for Mobile, Automotive, and Machine Vision Applications
Sunday 26 January • 13:30 – 17:45
Course Length: 4 hours
Course Level: Introductory/Intermediate
Instructors: Don Williams, Image Science Associates, and Peter Burns, Burns Digital Imaging

Learning Outcomes
This course enables the attendee to:

• Understand current methods for objective image quality evaluation.
• Explain the difference between imaging performance and image quality.
• Describe why standard performance methods might differ with markets.
• Identify challenges, and approaches for evaluating wide Field-of-View (FOV) cameras.
• Quantify and mitigate sources of system variability, e.g., in multi-camera systems.

We start by discussing objective image quality methods, as developed for image capture systems. Several of these methods have been adapted in emerging standards for, e.g., automotive (ADAS) and machine-vision applications. We describe how and why imaging performance methods are being adopted. Most efforts rely on several ISO-defined methods, e.g., for color-encoding, image resolution, distortion, and noise. While several measurement protocols are similar, the image quality needs are different. For example, the EMVA 12288 standard for machine vision emphasizes detector signal and noise characteristics. However, the CPIQ and IEEE P2020 automotive imaging initiatives include attributes due to optical and video performance (e.g., distortion and motion artifacts).

Intended Audience
Image scientists, quality engineers, and others evaluating digital camera and scanner performance. The previous introduction to methods for imaging performance testing (optical distortion, color-error, MTF, etc.) will be useful.

Don Williams, founder of Image Science Associates, was with Kodak Research Laboratories. His work focuses on quantitative signal and noise performance metrics for digital capture imaging devices and imaging fidelity issues. He co-leads the TC 42 standardization efforts on digital print and film scanner resolution (ISO 16067-1, ISO 16067-2), scanner dynamic range (ISO 21550), and is the editor for the second edition to digital camera resolution (ISO 12233).

Peter Burns is a consultant working in imaging system evaluation, modeling, and image processing. Previously he worked for Carestream Health, Xerox, and Eastman Kodak. A frequent instructor and speaker at technical conferences, he has contributed to several imaging standards. He has taught imaging courses for clients and universities for many years.