An Image Edge Detection Algorithm Based on Multi-Feature Fusion

Edge detection is one of the core steps of image processing and computer vision. Accurate and fine image edge will make further target detection and semantic segmentation more effective. Holistically-Nested edge detection (HED) edge detection network has been proved to be a deep-learning network with better performance for edge detection. However, it is found that when the HED network is used in overlapping complex multi-edge scenarios for automatic object identification. There will be detected edge incomplete, not smooth and other problems. To solve these problems, an image edge detection algorithm based on improved HED and feature fusion is proposed. On the one hand, features are extracted using the improved HED network: the HED convolution layer is improved. The residual variable convolution block is used to replace the normal convolution enhancement model to extract features from edges of different sizes and shapes. Meanwhile, the empty convolution is used to replace the original pooling layer to expand the receptive field and retain more global information to obtain comprehensive feature information. On the other hand, edges are extracted using Otsu algorithm: Otsu-Canny algorithm is used to adaptively adjust the threshold value in the global scene to achieve the edge detection under the optimal threshold value. Finally, the edge extracted by improved HED network and Otsu-Canny algorithm is fused to obtain the final edge. Experimental results show that on the Berkeley University Data Set (BSDS500) the optimal data set size (ODS) F-measure of the proposed algorithm is 0.793; the average precision (AP) of the algorithm is 0.849; detection speed can reach more than 25 frames per second (FPS), which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method.