As an Associate Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology, I am part of the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory at the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, a department within the College of Science. I teach courses in digital image processing, remote sensing, and a variety of computing languages for imaging science students.
    1051.211 / Programming for Imaging Science
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    This course will introduce the student to the IDL environment as a data visualization tool and a programming language. The student will learn the various capabilities of the package and how they can rapidly prototype solutions to various science and engineering problems. As these solutions are developed, fundamental concepts of programming and data structures will be introduced. Programming assignments will include fundamental imaging related problems and will work with scalar, vector and array processes. This course will emphasize the need for concrete problem definition, problem decomposition into smaller sub-problems, implementation/testing, and presentation/documentation of the algorithms and results. (Algebra and trigonometry) Class 4, Credit 4 (PDF)
    1051.361 / Digital Image Processing I
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    This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of digital image processing. The student will be exposed to image capture and image formation methodologies, sampling and quantization concepts, statistical descriptors and enhancement techniques based upon the image histogram, point processing, neighborhood processing, and global processing techniques based upon kernel operations and discrete convolution as well as the frequency domain equivalents, geometrical operations for scale and rotation, and grey-level resampling techniques. The student will be introduced to the computation of the discrete and fast Fourier transforms for one- and two-dimensional functions and the techniques of frequency domain filtering. Emphasis is placed on applications and efficient algorithmic implementation using the IDL programming language. (1016-305, 1051-211 or equivalent) Class 4, Credit 4 (PDF)
    1051.462 / Digital Image Processing II
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    This course is an introduction to the more advanced concepts of digital image processing. The student will be exposed to image reconstruction, noise sources and techniques for noise removal, information theory, image compression, video compression, wavelet transformations and the basics of digital image watermarking. Emphasis is placed on applications and efficient algorithmic implementation using the IDL programming language. (1051-461) Class 4, Credit 4 (PDF)
    1051.463 / Digital Image Processing III
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    This course discusses the digital image processing concepts and algorithms used for the analysis of hyperspectral, multispectral and multi-channel data in remote sensing and other application areas. Concepts are covered at the theoretical and implementation level using current, popular commercial software packages and high-level programming languages for examples, homework and programming assignments. The requisite multivariate statistics will be presented as part of this course as an extension of the univariate statistics that the students have previously been exposed to. Topics to be covered will include methods for supervised data classification, clustering algorithms and unsupervised classification, multispectral data transformations, data redundancy reduction techniques, image-to-image rectification, and data fusion for resolution enhancement. (1051-211 or equivalent, 1016-351, 1061-352) Class 4, Credit 4 (PDF)
    1051.502 / 1051.503 / Senior Project
    Guidance for undergraduate level research projects leading to Bachelor of Science degree in Imaging Science. I am currently serving on or have served as an advisor for the following students:

    1. Brandon Migdal (BS), Extraction methods of watermarks from linearly-distorted images to maximize signal-to-noise ratio, May 2004 (PDF)
    2. Seth Weith-Glushko (BS), Automatic tie-point generation for oblique aerial imagery: An algorithm, May 2004 (PDF)
    3. Christopher Bayer (BS), Development of algorithm for fusion of hyperspectral and multispectral imagery with the objective of improving spatial resolution while retaining spectral data, May 2005 (PDF)
    4. Bethany Choate (BS), Investigating the use of agglomerative hierarchical clustering as a method for multispectral image classication, May 2006
    5. William Pfeister (BS), Automation of a laboratory-based goniometer for measurment of bidirectional reflectance distribution functions, May 2006
    6. Michael Denning (BS), Classification of astronomical infrared sources using Spitzer space telescope data, February 2007 (PDF)
    7. Russell Barkley (BS), Tracking fluorescent particles used in lung simulation studies using high-speed video imagery, May 2008 (Primary Advisor: Risa Robinson)
    8. Meredith Curtis (BS), Application of image reconstruction techniques to Mars neutron spectroscopy data, February 2009 (PDF)
    9. Paul Romanczyk (BS), Currently in progress
    10. Katie Salvaggio (BS), Currently in progress

    0303.560 / 0303.561 / Multidisciplinary Engineering Senior Design
    The Multidisciplinary Senior Design program prepares students for modern engineering practice through a multidisciplinary, team-based design experience in which the students apply the skills and knowledge acquired in earlier coursework to define, analyze, design and implement solutions to unstructured, open-ended, multidisciplinary engineering problems while adhering to customer requirements and recognized engineering standards. The projects are sponsored by wide range of industries and government organizations. I am currently serving on or have served as an advisor for the following students:

    1. Rick Andol (BS), BRDF Imaging Platform (P07521), May 2006
    2. Kathryn Berens (BS), BRDF Imaging Platform (P07521), May 2006
    3. William Casolara (BS), BRDF Imaging Platform (P07521), May 2006
    4. Matthew Harris (BS), BRDF Imaging Platform (P07521), May 2006
    5. Robert Jaromin (BS), BRDF Imaging Platform (P07521), May 2006
    6. Ross Strebig (BS), BRDF Imaging Platform (P07521), May 2006
    7. Lenny Calabrese (BS), Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Platform (R09560), Currently in progress
    8. Joanna Dobeck (BS), Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Platform (R09560), Currently in progress
    9. Darrell Draper (BS), Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Platform (R09560), Currently in progress
    10. Dave Lewis (BS), Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Platform (R09560), Currently in progress
    11. Steve Sweet (BS), Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Platform (R09560), Currently in progress
    12. Jason Thibado (BS), Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Imaging Platform (R09560), Currently in progress

    1051.553 / Special Topics - Programming for Imaging Science II
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    This course emphasizes the algorithm development and implementation of advanced digital imaging applications. Modular programming concepts are emphasized along with good coding and documentation practices. The course will be carried out in the UNIX operating environment and IDL will be the programming language utilized. Language specific characteristics such as the use of IDL widgets for graphical user interface development, the use of IDL objects, the use of ENVI specific functions and procedures, further treatment of image data types, and color management will be explored. Example algorithmic areas that may be explored are image compression, color space transformations, frequency domain image reconstruction, and the use of multi-band imagery. (1051-211 or permission of instructor) Class 2, Credit 2
    1051.553 / Special Topics - Applied Computing for Imaging Science
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    This course is intended to develop the students skills in applied computing and research techniques. A prerequisite to scientific advancement is a thorough understanding of historical and recent literature relevant to the field of study. This often involves repeating experiments that predecessors and current colleagues have performed. Often, insights are gained when experiments are repeated that cannot be realized simply by reading an article in a professional journal or conference proceeding. In this course, the student will choose an article from the historical or recent literature that describes a computational technique used in the field of imaging science. The student will implement the described algorithm in the computer language of their choice, and attempt to repeat the results obtained by the author. Along the way, the student will make three oral presentations during class, the first describing the referenced research, the second, a report on their progress in re-implementing the referenced work, and the third, describing the success, failure or questions that arose during execution of the project. The intent is to develop a critical approach to reading published research, questioning both implementation and results in order to gain a thorough understanding of the work. (1051-211 or equivalent and permission of the instructor) Class 2, Credit 3 (PDF)
    1051.599 / 1055.359 / Undergraduate Independent Study (Honors Research)

      Cynthia Scigaj (Undergraduate)
      A study in sensor design specifications was carried out to prepare sensor models for the Digital Image and Remote Sensing laboratories Synthetic Image Generation model (DIRSIG). The student performed a very thorough review of the literature to establish a comprehensive database of sensor characteristics for systems in use today by commercial and government organizations.
      Completed: February 2002

      Bethany Choate (Undergraduate)
      A study to determine whether agglomerative hierarchical clustering used as a pre-cursor to traditional K-mean unsupervised classification as a means of determining the initial cluster mean values provides better selection than the traditional random choice methodology
      Completed: May 2005

      Jarrett Whetstone (Undergraduate)
      An implementation of the seam carving algorithm for dynamic image resizing was undertaken in the IDL programming language to identify any limitations that may be present and demonstrate the viability of this technique.
      Completed: November 2007

      Erin Schmidtmann (Undergraduate)
      A study in programming using the IDL language with applications to image and radiometric processing.
      Completed: May 2008

      Ann Nunziata (Undergraduate)
      A primer class on LabView programming with a specific application to motor and camera control applied to the DIRS laboratory spectrogoniometric brdf measurement system.
      Completed: August 2008

      Jon Purington (Undergraduate)
      An introduction to Cocoa programming under Mac OS X concentrating on the use of the Apple Core Video library routines for video processing.
      Completed: February 2009

    1051.753 / Remote Sensing - Sensors and Image Analysis
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    This course will provide the basic fundamentals necessary to understand the field of remote sensing including sensors designs, photogrammetry, radiation propagation, atmospheric compensation, unique image processing techniques, multispectral concepts and techniques, and image/information combining methodologies. Class 3, Lab 1, Credit 4
    1051.782 / Introduction to Digital Image Processing
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    This course will provide the basic understanding of imaging systems, image transformation and associated mathematics and computational processes needed for upper-level classes in the imaging science graduate program. Topics covered include linear vector spaces, image mathematics, image statistics and point processing, linear and nonlinear image filters, image transforms and computer algorithms. Computational methods and techniques for essential processes for imaging systems are used as the course framework. Class 4, Credit 4
    1051.799 / Graduate Independent Study

      James Shell (Graduate)
      A study to establish the theoretical framework necessary to understand BRDF in the visible to near infrared (VNIR) spectral region was conducteded, along with BRDF measurement techniques. Some popular BRDF models, which enable interpolation of measured data are reviewed. The most general form of the BRDF, that which included polarization, was examined in detail. A viable polarimetric BRDF measurement technique was presented, along with models which may be used to extrapolate the measured data. Potential applications of spectropolarimetric BRDF to remote sensing was reviewed. Finally, a recommendation was made for a simple outdoor BRDF measurement system which enables the application of spatial resolution-dependent BRDF variation toward hyperspectral algorithms and synthetic image generation.
      Completed: May 2003

      Michael Foster (Graduate)
      A study to establish the utility of polarization imagery collected with the LIAS WASP-lite sensor. This work included a system design/performance trade-off of off-the-shelf polarization filters for incorporation in the WASP-lite build being carried out concurrently. In addition, processing algorithms were developed to exploit the future imagery.
      Completed: August 2004

      Matthew Montanaro (Graduate)
      A study to identify and implement numerous mathematical models of bidirectional reflectance functions was carried out. In this study the Priest-Germer, Torrance-Sparrow, Beard-Maxwell, and Ward models were described and implemented in a Matlab based simulation environment.
      Completed: May 2006

      Sang-Yun Moon (Graduate)
      A self-directed study in object-oriented programming using the C++ programming language for image processing and medical imaging system modeling was undertaken.
      Completed: August 2006

      May Arsenovic (Graduate)
      The radiometric and geometric calibration of a constructed image-based spectral gonioradiometer was undertaken. Topics investigated include lamp spectral power distribution, lamp stability, geometric positioning, spectrometer alignment, spectrometer response function, and spectrometer stability. The final product is a LabVIEW control system allowing for calibrated output of spectral bidirectional reflectance factors for sample materials.
      Completed: November 2007

      Jacqueline Spier (Graduate)
      An introduction to object-oriented programming in C++ with the purpose of understanding the numerical radiometric modeling in DIRSIG's photon mapping radiometry solver.
      Completed: November 2007

      Sang-Yun Moon (Graduate)
      A competency in LabVIEW programming was obtained applied to the task of developing a control system for an electron spin resonance spectrometer for the Magnetic Resonnance Imaging laboratory. Visual programming of such tasks as ASCII control codes via RS232 and DAC/ADC board control were mastered during the course of this study.
      Completed: November 2008
      Primary Advisor: Joseph Hornak

    1051.840 / Masters Thesis Project
    Guidance for graduate level research projects leading to an online Master of Science degree in Imaging Science. I am currently serving on or have served as an advisor for the following students:

    1. Timothy Grabowski (MS), Effects of pixel size on apparent emissivity signatures of materials with longwave infrared spectral characteristics, May 2006 (PDF)
    2. Gregory Gosian (MS), A non-probabilistic, compact compression algorithm suitable for deep space solar system mission image transmission, February 2008 (PDF)
    3. Kristen Powers (MS), DIRSIG cloud modeling capabilities: A parametric study, January 2009 (PDF)
    4. Alexander Cherekos (MS), Gaseous plume detection using projective K-means method, May 2009 (PDF)
    5. Cynthia Scigaj (MS), Study and simulation of remote sensing system: COMPact Airborne Spectral Sensor (COMPASS), June 2009 (PDF)
    6. Rachel Obajtek (MS), Currently in progress

    1051.890 / Research and Thesis
    Guidance for graduate level research projects leading to Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Imaging Science. I am currently serving on or have served as an advisor for the following students:

       Master of Science (7)

    1. John Francis (MS), Pixel-by-pixel reduction of atmospheric haze effects in multispectral digital imagery of water, May 1989 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    2. Denis Robert (MS), Selection and analysis of optimal textural features for accurate classification of monochrome digitized image data, May 1989 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    3. Jan North (MS), Fourier image synthesis and slope spectrum analysis of deep water, wind-wave scenes viewed at Brewster's angle, December 1989 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    4. Wendy Rosenblum (MS), Optimal selection of textural and spectral features for scene segmentation, May 1990 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    5. Eric Shor (MS), 3-D longwave infrared synthetic scene simulation, May 1990 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    6. Curtis Munechika (MS), Merging panchromatic and multispectral images for enhanced image analysis, August 1990 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    7. Jonathan Wright (MS), Evaluation of LOWTRAN and MODTRAN for use over high zenith angle/long path length viewing, May 1991 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    8. Sharon Cady (MS), Multi-scene atmospheric normalization of airborne imagery: Application to the remote measurement of lake acidification, April 1992 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    9. Gustav Braun (MS), Quantitative evaluation of six multispectral, multiresolution image merger routines, July 1992 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    10. Robert Merisko (MS), Enhancement to atmospheric-correction techniques for multiple thermal images, July 1992 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    11. David Ehrhard (MS), Application of Fourier-based features for classification of synthetic aperture radar imagery, September 1992 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    12. Donna Rankin (MS), Validation of DIRSIG an infrared synthetic scene generation model, February 1993 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    13. Adam Hanson (MS), Character recognition of optically blurred textual images using moment invariants, June 1993 (Primary Advisor: Roger Easton)
    14. Kaleen Moriarty (MS), Automated image-to-image rectification for use in change detection analysis as applied to forest clearcut mapping, August 1993
    15. Richard Stark (MS), Synthetic image generator model: Application of specular and diffuse reflectivity components and performance evaluation in the visible region, September 1993 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    16. Gary Ralph (MS), Characterization of the radiometric performance of an IR scene projector, June 1994 (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    17. Elizabeth Frey (MS), An examination of distributional assumptions in Landsat TM imagery, June 1995
    18. Neil Scanlan (MS), Comparative performance analysis of texture characterization models in DIRSIG, August 2003 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    19. Kris Barcomb (MS), High-resolution, slant-angle scene generation and validation of concealed targets in DIRSIG, August 2004 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    20. Marianne Lipps (MS), Task influence of scene content selected by active vision, August 2004 (Primary Advisor: Jeff Pelz) (PDF)
    21. Erin Peterson (MS), Synthetic landmine scene development and validation in DIRSIG, August 2004 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    22. David Pogorzola (MS), Gas plume species identification in LWIR hyperspectral imagery by regression analyses, April 2005 (PDF)
    23. Melissa Hofer (MS), A website and corresponding database to support the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing (DIRS) lab in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology, June 2005 (PDF)
    24. Erin O'Donnell (MS), Detection and identification of effluent gases using invariant hyperspectral algorithms, August 2005 (PDF)
    25. Timothy Hattenberger (MS), A psychovisual investigation of global illumination algorithms used in augmented reality, March 2006 (Primary Advisor: Mark Fairchild) (PDF)
    26. Kristin-Elke Strackerjan (MS), Modelling the spectral effects of water and soil as surface contaminants in a high resolution optical image simulation, July 2006 (Primary Advisor: John Kerekes) (PDF)
    27. Seth Weith-Glushko (MS), Quantitative analysis of infrared contrast enhancement algorithms, September 2006 (PDF)
    28. Brian Dobbs (MS), The incorporation of atmospheric variability into DIRSIG, October 2006 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    29. Francis Padula (MS), Historic thermal calibration of Landsat 5 TM through an improved physics based approach, October 2008 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    30. Chabitha Devaraj (MS), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    31. Ouyang Ling (MS), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Richard Zabinni)
    32. Philip Nau (MS), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Karl Korfmacher)
    33. David Nilosek (MS), Currently in progress
    34. Donald Taylor (MS), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: John Schott)


       Doctor of Philosophy (3)

    1. Susan Hojnacki (Ph.D.), A source classification algorithm for astronomical X-ray imagery of stellar clusters, May 2005 (Primary Advisor: Joel Kastner) (PDF)
    2. James Shell (Ph.D.), Polarimetric remote sensing in the visible to near infrared, November 2005 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    3. Michael Gartley (Ph.D.), Polarimetric modeling of remotely sensed scenes in the thermal infrared, May 2007 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    4. Yan Li (Ph.D.), An integrated water quality modeling system with dynamic remote sensing feedback, July 2007 (Primary Advisor: Anthony Vodacek) (PDF)
    5. Brent Bartlett (Ph.D.), Improvement of retrieved reflectance in the presence of clouds, August 2007 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    6. Michael Foster (Ph.D.), Using LIDAR to geometrically constrain signature spaces for physics-based target detection, August 2007 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    7. Zhen Wang (Ph.D.), Modeling wildland fire radiance in synthetic remote sensing scenes, August 2007 (Primary Advisor: Anthony Vodacek) (PDF)
    8. Marvin Boonmee (Ph.D.), Land surface temperature and emissivity retrieval from thermal infrared hyperspectral imagery, October 2007 (Primary Advisor: John Schott) (PDF)
    9. Derek Walvoord (Ph.D.), Advanced correlation-based character recognition applied to the Archimedes palimpsest, May 2008 (Primary Advisor: Roger Easton) (PDF)
    10. Marcus Stefanou (Ph.D.), Spectral image utility for target detection applications, July 2008 (Primary Advisor: John Kerekes) (PDF)
    11. Matthew Montanaro (Ph.D.), Radiometric modeling of mechanical draft cooling towers to assist in the extraction of their absolute temperature from remote thermal imagery, May 2009 (PDF) (Presentation)
    12. May Arsenovic (Ph.D.), Currently in progress
    13. Xiofeng Fan (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Harvey Rhody)
    14. Shawn Higbee (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: David Messinger)
    15. Feng Li (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Jeff Pelz)
    16. Sarah Paul (Ph.D.), Currently in progress
    17. Ariel Schlamm (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: David Messinger)
    18. Carl Smith (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Jonathan Arney)
    19. Jaqueline Speir (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: John Schott)
    20. Alvin Spivey (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Anthony Vodacek)
    21. Aaron Weiner (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: David Messinger)
    22. Yushan Zhu (Ph.D.), Currently in progress (Primary Advisor: Anthony Vodacek)

    In the past, I have offered the following undergraduate, graduate, and industry/government short courses at the Center and in other venues

      C Programming for Imaging Science (RIT)
      C++ Programming for Imaging Science (RIT)
      FORTRAN Programming (RIT)
      Programming Concepts for Technical Photography (RIT)
      Digital Image Processing: Image Compression (RIT)
      Principles of Remote Sensing Image Analysis: Radiometry (RIT)
      Principles of Remote Sensing Image Analysis: Multispectral Image Analysis (RIT)
      Principles of Remote Sensing Image Analysis: Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing (RIT)
      Digital Image Processing with Application to Remote Sensing (Royal Canadian Air Force)
      Special Topics in Imagery Analysis (NIMA College)