[QGIS-Developer] Suggestion to integrate MCG image segmentation in QGIS

[Sophie Crommelinck]

Hello,

For my PhD research, I have developed the BoundaryDelineation QGIS plugin
that aims to facilitate manual digitization from remote sensing imagery. As
an input, it requires object outlines obtained through image segmentation.
I have tested different image segmentations in QGIS, but found that
external approaches from computer vision provide better object outlines.
For the purpose of cadastral mapping that requires to digitize along roads,
buildings, rivers, fences, etc., I obtained accurate contours around
visible objects from drone, aerial and satellite imagery with Multiscale
Combinatorial Grouping (MCG) from Berkeley University. The code is open
source (
https://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Research/Projects/CS/vision/grouping/mcg/#).
However, it is partly pre-compiled for Matlab and does not work under
Windows. In order to keep the geo-reference of input images, I have added
two small scripts (
https://github.com/SCrommelinck/Delineation-Tool/tree/master/v3.0/1_image_segmentation).
Here is a video that shows MCG results on rural aerial imagery as well as
the use of the plugin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrDv8fW53Fs. MCG
results on peri-urban drone imagery can be seen here:
https://arxiv.org/abs/1904.12586

If this image segmentation would be included in QGIS, a user would not rely
on processing input data externally before being able to use the
BoundaryDelineation plugin. Furthermore, QGIS would incorporate and
facilitate the use of a state of the art computer vision image
segmentation. Segmenting an image into larger objects is an often applied
first step in many mapping and classification procedures.

My question is how to check whether someone would be interested to
implement MCG in QGIS. My own programming skills are not elaborated enough.
Should I open a feature request here: https://github.com/qgis/QGIS/issues,
or is posting my suggestion to this mailing list the way to go?

Best,

Sophie
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