Image analysis software works with microscopes, telescopes, digital cameras, and sophisticated medical technology to perform a variety of automated tasks such as 3D rendering and measurement, phase or particle analysis, grain sizing, classification and identification, and extensive measurements. It generally includes the ability to acquire and manage digital images and process and analyze images. Sometimes report generation and charting components are also included.
Image analyzing software has powerful tools for industrial, biomedical, metallurgical, and many other industries. It is used in research laboratories and for quality control in the manufacturing sectors. These tools are used to study everything from virus infected grasses, to comets through the study and analysis of stardust. It's used for automated insect identification and counting, and the characterization of brain lesions in MRI and CT images of the human brain.
Some digital imaging applications are generic products with tools that can be used by a variety of industries. Other industries have specific analysis needs and vertical products have emerged to meet those needs.Features commonly available with image analysis applications include:
- Image acquisition
- Calibration tools
- Scale settings
- 3D rendering
- Object shape and size categories
- Area fraction
- Data processing and export
- Image manipulation tools (rotation, brightness, contrast, hue)
Major Vendors:
- Smart Image Technologies
- Data Translation
- AutoQuant
- Pax-It
- Media Cybernetics
- Olympus
Selection Criteria:
- Compatibility with your image acquisition tools (microscope, camera, MRI, etc)
- Extremely fragmented market – because analysis needs are divergent between industries – many vertical applications have arisen across different industries – usually 3-4 major ones per industry (several medical ones, several dental ones, several mapping ones, etc.)
- Look within your industry – if it has specific requirements, a specialized product will probably be what you need.
- Integration with other required tools such as microscopy software, database tools, etc.
- System resources: Not usually an issue, but sometimes small business environments are on over-taxed hardware already.