525.746.81 - Image Engineering

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted on the Course Outline page. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Introduction and Review of Linear Systems
• The Human Visual System
• Color in Images
• Geometric Optics
• Introduction to Photography
• Digital Photography
• Digital Image Formats
• Introduction to Video
• Digital Video
• Image Enhancement
• Image Geometry and Stereo 3D Imaging

Course Goals

The overall goal of the course is to provide the student with a unified view of images, concentrating on image creation, and also image processing.

• For example: Adjustment of the "contrast" control on a television receiver causes an operation to be performed on an image that can be described mathematically.
• This same operation can be accomplished by different means in digital or photographic systems.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Describe the human visual system and important aspects of visual perception.
• Evaluate analog and digital photographic and video systems as they relate to one another and to human visual perception.
• Demonstrate compression methods used in various digital image formats.
• Apply image enhancement algorithms.
• Explain the relationships between the various types of imaging covered in the course.

Textbooks

Required

Marques, Oge, (2011). Practical Image and Video Processing Using MATLAB, 1st Edition.
ISBN 978-0-470-04815-3

Recommended

Gonzalez, R. C., & Woods, R. E. (2017). Digital image processing (4th ed.).

ISBN-13: 978-0133356724, ISBN-10: 0133356728

Additionally, there is a reading list for each module, including additional optional texts pertaining to specific modules, which can be found in the EReserves area.

Required Software

Students will also need access to computational software capable of image processing and analysis, such as Matlab or IDL. Most students choose to use Matlab, and the instructions for obtaining it are given below. If you choose to use another software package for image and signal processing and computations, such as IDL or Mathematica, please let the instructor know during the first module.

MATLAB

If you choose to use Matlab for your image and signal processing, you will need access to a recent version of MATLAB with the Signal and Image Processing Toolkits. The MATLAB Total Academic Headcount (TAH) license is now in effect. This license is provided at no cost to you. Send an email to software@jhu.edu to request your license file/code. Please indicate that you need a standalone file/code. You will need to provide your first and last name, as well as your Hopkins email address. You will receive an email from Mathworks with instructions to create a Mathworks account. The MATLAB software will be available for download from the Mathworks site.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 7–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 3–4 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 2–3 hours per week), and completing assignments (approximately 2–3 hours per week).

This course will consist of four basic student requirements:

Weekly Assignments

Assignments will occur most weeks, and graded on a scale of 0 to 100. Late assignments will not be accepted unless approved, but the lowest homework score will be dropped. The expectations for and grading of the weekly assignments are described in detail in the Assignments Rubric.

Midterm Assignment

A midterm assignment will be conducted halfway through the course.

Final Presentation

Students are required to make a presentation to the class (~15 minutes long) on a topic of their choosing. They will peer review their classmates’ presentations in Module 12.  The expectations for and grading of the Final Presentation is given in detail in the Final Presentation Rubric.

Participation in Class Discussions

The expectations for and grading of the Discussions is given in the Discussions Rubric.

Grading Policy

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I/We will post grades one week after assignment due dates.

I generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Weekly Assignments = 40%

Midterm Assignment = 20%

Final Presentation = 20%

Discussion Participation = 20%

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.