Implementation of image database systems using differing indexing methods

With advances in storage, processing and communications technologies the creation of large collections of image data has become feasible, for which Picture Retrieval Systems will require flexible and efficient retrieval methods. The way a user searches for an object such as an image will depend on the object's context and the application in mind. In this paper we review methods of indexing imagery based on information associated with, and information derived from images. Experimental systems are described which illustrate different methods for indexing according to imagery type. One system indexes a collection of ship images. Since the focus is an object, namely a ship of interest, the indexing method adopted is one that can describe relative relationships of components of the ship. The second system is designed to manage collections of images of geographic areas, such as aerial or satellite image. In this case the images are indexed by geographic locations using a geographic information system to manage the spatial data structures. An extension of this system is described which allows the capture of object-related information. This allows object based descriptions to be incorporated for retrieval. Implementation of each system is described and example output presented.