Instructors: Peter D, Burns, Burns Digital Imaging, and Don Williams, Image Science Associates
Level: Introductory
Prerequisites: Basic understanding of image capture.

Benefits:
This course enables the attendee to:

• Describe the motivation for measuring imaging performance ‘by the numbers’.
• Interpret and reduce measurement variability.
• Critique the design of test targets used for ground-truth performance.
• Describe why standard performance methods might differ with markets.
• Identify challenges, and approaches, e.g., for evaluating wide Field-of-View (FOV) cameras.
• (New) Understand several Information Theory (info. capacity, noise-equivalent quanta) concepts.

Course Description:
The course starts 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. The instructors 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 the detector signal, while IEEE/P2020 includes optical, environmental, and motion conditions. New this year, the instructors include the application of Information Theory concepts, and end with an open discussion with participants.

Intended Audience: Image scientists, quality engineers, and others evaluating digital camera and scanner performance.

Peter Burns is a consultant for imaging system evaluation, modeling, and design. Previously he worked for Carestream Health, Xerox, and Eastman Kodak. A frequent speaker at technical conferences, he has taught imaging courses for clients and universities for many years. He studied electrical engineering at Clarkson University and completed his PhD in imaging science at RIT.

Don Williams is the founder of Image Science Associates, which focuses on quantitative imaging performance/fidelity evaluation for digital capture systems. His clients include national libraries, museums, and those with dental, mobile, and automotive applications. He contributes to several international standards activities. Williams studied imaging science at RIT, and previously worked at Eastman Kodak Research Labs.