TY - RPRT T1 - Minimal partitions and image classification using a gradient-free perimeter approximation Y1 - 2013 A1 - Samuel Amstutz A1 - Nicolas Van Goethem A1 - Antonio André Novotny KW - Image classification, deblurring, optimal partitions, perimeter approximation AB - In this paper a new mathematically-founded method for the optimal partitioning of domains, with applications to the classification of greyscale and color images, is proposed. Since optimal partition problems are in general ill-posed, some regularization strategy is required. Here we regularize by a non-standard approximation of the total interface length, which does not involve the gradient of approximate characteristic functions, in contrast to the classical Modica-Mortola approximation. Instead, it involves a system of uncoupled linear partial differential equations and nevertheless shows $\Gamma$-convergence properties in appropriate function spaces. This approach leads to an alternating algorithm that ensures a decrease of the objective function at each iteration, and which always provides a partition, even during the iterations. The efficiency of this algorithm is illustrated by various numerical examples. Among them we consider binary and multilabel minimal partition problems including supervised or automatic image classification, inpainting, texture pattern identification and deblurring. PB - SISSA UR - http://hdl.handle.net/1963/6976 U1 - 6964 U2 - Mathematics U4 - 1 U5 - MAT/05 ANALISI MATEMATICA ER -