Act 8: Morphological Operations

In this activity, we investigate the effects of the morphological operations erode and dilate when used on an image. We use the following images in particular:

We make use of the following structuring elements on all images for both dilation and erosion operation:
a) 4x4 matrix
b) 2x4 matrix
c) 4x2 matrix
d) a cross 5 pixel long and 1 pixel thick

The images from left to right displayed below will correspond to a to d.
Square
Dilation:

Erosion:



Triangle:
Dilation:

Erosion:



Circle:
Dilation:

Erosion:



Hollow Square:
Dilation:

Erosion:


Cross:
Dilation:

Erosion:


What happens during dilation is that the image expands in the form of the structural element. An example is when the square is dilated using the cross structural element, the square not only expands but its shape also becomes crosslike. Erosion works similarly to dilation, except that it shrinks the image in its form. For example, the hollow square simply becomes four small squares that are positioned in each of the original hollow square's corners.

My submitted predictions were generally correct for the dilation part. Erosion was much harder to predict for me for the triangle, hollow square and cross due to their somewhat irregular shape.

I would grade myself a 9/10 for this activity for being able to perform the operations correctly and a few correct predictions. I would like to thank Earl for his help in this activity.