Fuzzy Transforms for Image Processing and Data Analysis

This book analyzes techniques that use the direct and inverse fuzzy transform for image processing and data analysis. The book is divided into two parts, the first of which describes methods and techniques that use the bi-dimensional fuzzy transform method in image analysis. In turn, the second describes approaches that use the multidimensional fuzzy transform method in data analysis. An F-transform in one variable is defined as an operator which transforms a continuous function f on the real interval [a,b] in an n-dimensional vector by using n-assigned fuzzy sets A1, ... , An which constitute a fuzzy partition of [a,b]. Then, an inverse F-transform is defined in order to convert the n-dimensional vector output in a continuous function that equals f up to an arbitrary quantity . We may limit this concept to the finite case by defining the discrete F-transform of a function f in one variable, even if it is not known a priori. A simple extension of this concept to functions in two variables allows it to be used for the coding/decoding and processing of images. Moreover, an extended version with multidimensional functions can be used to address a host of topics in data analysis, including the analysis of large and very large datasets. Over the past decade, many researchers have proposed applications of fuzzy transform techniques for various image processing topics, such as image coding/decoding, image reduction, image segmentation, image watermarking and image fusion; and for such data analysis problems as regression analysis, classification, association rule extraction, time series analysis, forecasting, and spatial data analysis.