Adaptive mathematical morphology for edge linking.

In this paper, adaptive mathematical morphology and its application to edge linking are presented to fill in the gaps between edge segments. Broken edges are extended along their slope directions by using the adaptive dilation operation with the suitable sized elliptical structuring elements. The size and orientation of the structuring element are adjusted according to the local properties, such as slope and curvature. Post-processes of thinning and pruning are also applied. The edge-linking operation is performed in an iterative manner, so that the broken edges can be linked up gradually and smoothly while the details of the object shape are preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]