Describing object shapes in satellite imagery

The paper considers a number of questions relating to one stage in the auto mated recognition of coastlines on satellite imagery, the stage of the tran sformation of the detected contour structure to a form convenient for compa rison with a model. The representation of information about the curves dete cted in the form of a discrete analogue of a natural equation is substantia ted. Criteria are given for grouping together the curves relating to a sing le object without using specific object models or half-tone information abo ut the image. An algorithm is given which can be used to generate a simplif ied description of the shape of the curves, matching our own inherent ideas about how the result should look.