SIAM Journal on Imaging Sciences (SIIMS) Special Issue on Optimization in Imaging Science

Many image analysis problems can be formulated as MRF or CRF estimation problems that require minimization of a discrete energy function. Commonly used energy functions are based on models in physics, geometry, or statistics. With some exceptions, however, many formulations correspond to NP-hard optimization problems. Recently there has been a surge in research in image sciences where either known or newly developed combinatorial optimization algorithms were successfully applied to a wide spectrum of problems in imaging. There are several aspects of this development. Some of the new combinatorial algorithms could guarantee globally optimal solutions for certain special cases, and several such special classes were identified in image. Furthermore, new optimization methods with proven performance guarantees have been developed and applied to a much wider spectrum of more difficult imaging problems.

Geometric interpretation of discrete energies on N-D grids/complexes have yielded very fruitful connections with continuous models and optimization methods for hyper-surfaces, total variation, or other functionals. In summary, combinatorial optimization techniques applied to image analysis have led to rapid development of a large number of very fast practical optimization algorithms for many imaging problems. We are soliciting original contributions on the theoretical and algorithmic aspects of related discrete optimization techniques, as well as their applications in imaging science. The scope of this special issue includes, but is not limited to:

    * graph cuts, belief-propagation and message passing, pseudo-boolean optimization, linear and nonlinear binary optimization, primal-dual methods, etc.
    * applications in image analysis, multiview geometry/reconstruction, optical flows, segmentation, registration, etc.
    * high-order MRFs
    * geometric models, convex relaxations, continuous flows

Important Dates:

Accepting manuscript submissions:
March 1 to April 15, 2009

First review completed: July 2009
Revised manuscript due: September 2009
Expected publication date: December 2009/January 2010 Guest Editors:

Endre Boros, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey
Email: Endre.Boros@rutcor.rutgers.edu

Yuri Boykov, University of Western Ontario, Canada
Email: yuri@csd.uwo.ca

Jerome Darbon, University of California Los Angeles
Email: jerome@math.ucla.edu

Philip Torr, Oxford Brookes University, UK
Email: philiptorr@brookes.ac.uk
Special Issue Adviser:

Andrew Blake, Microsoft Research Cambridge, UK

All interested should submit a manuscript and cover letter in PDF format via the SIIMS online submission site at http://siims.siam.org. Include a statement in the cover letter requesting the paper be considered for the Special Issue on Optimization in Imaging Science. Note the block labeled Special Section (just under the keywords block on your submission screen) and select "Special Issue on Optimization in Imaging Science" from the dropdown box. Also be sure to note in the Manuscript Comment text box at the bottom of this page that your work is intended for the Special Issue.
Papers will be subject to review by a guest Editorial Board and the same high standards for the journal apply to the Special Issue. If any questions, contact Mitch Chernoff, Publications Manager, SIAM, at chernoff@siam.org, or Guillermo Sapiro, SIIMS Editor-in-Chief, at guille@umn.edu, or any of the four Guest Editors.