Removing visual bias in filament identification: A new goodness-of-fit measure

C. E. Green, M. R. Cunningham, J. R. Dawson, P. A. Jones, G. Novak, L. M. Fissel

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    8 Citations (Scopus)
    43 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Different combinations of input parameters to filament identification algorithms, such as disperse and filfinder, produce numerous different output skeletons. The skeletons are a one-pixel-wide representation of the filamentary structure in the original input image. However, these output skeletons may not necessarily be a good representation of that structure. Furthermore, a given skeleton may not be as good of a representation as another. Previously, there has been no mathematical "goodness-of-fit" measure to compare output skeletons to the input image. Thus far this has been assessed visually, introducing visual bias. We propose the application of the mean structural similarity index (MSSIM) as a mathematical goodness-of-fit measure. We describe the use of the MSSIM to find the output skeletons that are the most mathematically similar to the original input image (the optimum, or "best," skeletons) for a given algorithm, and independently of the algorithm. This measure makes possible systematic parameter studies, aimed at finding the subset of input parameter values returning optimum skeletons. It can also be applied to the output of non-skeleton-based filament identification algorithms, such as the Hessian matrix method. The MSSIM removes the need to visually examine thousands of output skeletons, and eliminates the visual bias, subjectivity, and limited reproducibility inherent in that process, representing a major improvement upon existing techniques. Importantly, it also allows further automation in the post-processing of output skeletons, which is crucial in this era of "big data."

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberL17
    Pages (from-to)1-7
    Number of pages7
    JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
    Volume840
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 10 May 2017

    Bibliographical note

    Copyright 2017 the American Astronomical Society. First published in Astrophysical journal letters, volume 840, issue 2, article L17. The original publication is available at http://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa6e50, published by IOP Publishing. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Keywords

    • ISM: structure
    • methods: data analysis
    • methods: statistical
    • stars: formation
    • techniques: image processing

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