What Is Imaging Science?What Is Imaging Science?

Imaging Science FundamentalsImaging Science Fundamentals

What is an Image?What is an Image?

Your vacation photo taken with film.

Your x-ray from your doctor.

A program on your television.

What is an Image?What is an Image?

An image is a visual representation of An image is a visual representation of an “observable”an “observable”

An observable is some measurable An observable is some measurable property of a person, object, or property of a person, object, or phenomenon.phenomenon.

Images and Object PropertiesImages and Object Properties

Your vacation photo taken with film.

Your x-ray from your doctor.

Television program.

Reflected light captured on light sensitive material called film.

Transmitted x-rays captured on x-ray sensitive material.

Reflected light converted to electronic signal that is broadcast, received, then converted back to series of images!

ReflectionReflection

TransmissionTransmission

Reflection,Reflection,TimeTime

Other phenomena as ImagesOther phenomena as Images

Temperature map (Temperature)Temperature map (Temperature)

Ultrasound Imaging (Sound reflection)Ultrasound Imaging (Sound reflection)

Radar (Microwave reflection)Radar (Microwave reflection)

Seeing what your eyes can’t . . . Seeing what your eyes can’t . . .

Some imaging systems create visual Some imaging systems create visual maps of what the eye and mind can maps of what the eye and mind can see.see.

Others serve as Others serve as transducerstransducers, converting , converting what the eye cannot see into a visual what the eye cannot see into a visual representation that the mind can representation that the mind can comprehend.comprehend.

Imaging SystemsImaging Systems Device that creates the image.Device that creates the image.

Photograph

X-ray

Television

Camera, film, processing

X-ray machine, film

Camera, TV, etc.

Imaging ScienceImaging Science

Includes many scientific disciplines:Includes many scientific disciplines: MathematicsMathematics PhysicsPhysics ChemistryChemistry ElectronicsElectronics Other specific fields.Other specific fields.

The Imaging ChainThe Imaging Chain 6 Stages of Imaging6 Stages of Imaging

Source Object Collection Detection Storage Output

1. SOURCE: sun, star, light bulb

2. OBJECT: person, flower, car

3. COLLECTION: lens, mirror

4. DETECTION: film, CCD

5. STORAGE: film, computer file

6. OUTPUT: printout, monitor

Source Object Collection Detection Storage Output

Imaging systems include at least one step of the imaging chain.

Imaging is Everywhere!Imaging is Everywhere!

Applications of imaging technology can Applications of imaging technology can be seen almost everywhere.be seen almost everywhere.

Astronomy: Astronomy: “Zooming in” “Zooming in”

The constellation of Orion(wide-field)

The Orion Nebula(Hubble Space Telescope)

Gamma Ray

Astronomy: the whole Astronomy: the whole spectrumspectrum

Different regions of the Different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum electromagnetic spectrum allow astronomers to allow astronomers to detect diverse phenomena detect diverse phenomena in the universe.in the universe.

X-ray

Visible

Infrared

Radio Waves

Milky Way in the visible wavelength region.

Milky Way is the galaxy Milky Way is the galaxy where our solar system where our solar system is located. is located.

Images from NASA

Three views of young stars in Orion

Orion Nebula region left: optical

center: infraredright: Xray

Remote Sensing - DefenseRemote Sensing - Defense

Visible and infrared Visible and infrared wavelengths show wavelengths show visual details as well visual details as well as heat signatures of as heat signatures of aircraft and other aircraft and other objects.objects.

Image from Digital Globe

Remote Sensing - EnvironmentRemote Sensing - Environment

Satellites can monitor Satellites can monitor protected forests for protected forests for illegal logging activities.illegal logging activities.

Images from space show Images from space show depletion of ozone from depletion of ozone from the south pole.the south pole.

Images from Digital Globe and NASA

MeteorologyMeteorology

Meteorologists use a variety of image data to predict Meteorologists use a variety of image data to predict weather patterns, as well as represent data as weather patterns, as well as represent data as images.images.

Satellite based visible Satellite based visible image showing cloud image showing cloud cover.cover.

Ground based Ground based Doppler radar Doppler radar showing precipitation.showing precipitation.

Ground based Ground based temperature data also temperature data also can be shown as an can be shown as an image.image.

Images from The WeatherChannel

Archeology/ConservationArcheology/Conservation

Ancient documents Ancient documents can be made legible can be made legible by various imaging by various imaging techniques.techniques.

Image from Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science

Medical ImagingMedical Imaging

Medical imaging is used every day to provide Medical imaging is used every day to provide physicians with useful data for better patient care.physicians with useful data for better patient care.

Computer Tomography Computer Tomography (CT, CAT scan)(CT, CAT scan)

Magnetic Resonance Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)Imaging (MRI)

Ultrasound ImagingUltrasound Imaging

Images from The Visible Human and Siemens

Commercial/PersonalCommercial/Personal

PhotographyPhotography PrintingPrinting Desktop publishingDesktop publishing

In SummaryIn Summary

An An imageimage is a visual representation of is a visual representation of person, object, or phenomenon.person, object, or phenomenon.

Imaging systemsImaging systems create images. create images. Imaging systems record what we see, Imaging systems record what we see,

or what we cannot see.or what we cannot see. Imaging is everywhere!Imaging is everywhere!