Watershed-based maximum-homogeneity filtering

We introduce an image enhancement method referred to as the watershed-based maximum-homogeneity filter. This method first uses watershed analysis to s ubdivide the image into homogeneous pixel clusters called catchment basins. Next, using an adaptive, local, catchment-basin selection scheme, similar neighboring catchment basins are combined together to produce an enhanced i mage. Because the method starts with watershed analysis, it can preserve ed ge information and run with high computational efficiency. Illustrative res ults show that the method performs well relative to other popular nonlinear filters.