APPLICATION-SPECIFIC COMPUTER IMAGE ANALYSIS WORKSHOPS
Special Events of the
21st ANNUAL LARVAL FISH CONFERENCE
AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY EARLY LIFE HISTORY SECTION
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Joint Meetings
University of Washington, Seattle, 26 June - 2 July 1997
(Workshops on 2 July)
Share Your Experience, Expertise, Frustrations, and Problems!
Use of computer image-analysis techniques in the study of fishes and
fishery resources is steadily increasing and diversifying. The
benefits of such techniques in investigations of the early life stages
of fish are particularly promising, but there remain many limitations
and problems, and sometimes just a lack of "know-how."
On behalf of the Early Life History Section (ELHS) of the American
Fisheries Society (AFS), we are organizing and SOLICITING YOUR
PARTICIPATION (as leader, presenter, or attendee) in one, two, or all
three of the following 2-hour, application-specific, computer image
analysis workshops to be held as special events of the 21st annual
Larval Fish Conference.
Workshop 1. OTOLITH AND SCALE ANALYSES--Recovery of age, growth, and
other information (e.g., tags, stock identification) from
otoliths of larval and juvenile fishes (also other bony
structures or scales of older fishes). Leader: Peter
Hagen, Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Workshop 2. SAMPLE PROCESSING--Automated or semi-automated counts and
measurements (length or diameter frequencies) of batches
of fish eggs, larvae, or juveniles. Imagine putting a
tray of several dozen fish larvae under a video camera
and with the press of a key, having the computer program
capture the image, analyze the image for total lengths of
all fish in the image, and export that data to a
spreadsheet. Problem: how to automatically handle bent
and curved specimens. Leader: Volunteer Needed!
Workshop 3. TAXONOMIC ANALYSIS--Automated or semi-automated taxonomic
analysis for descriptive or specimen-identification
purposes, perhaps using special utilities for structural
measurements and counts, description or recognition of
pigmentation patterns, and shape analysis or pattern
recognition. Leader: Volunteer Needed!
Also, we are considering a preliminary 1-hour review and demonstration
by Optimas Corporation of IMAGE-ENHANCEMENT techniques useful in the
preparation of images for all three workshop applications..
The above workshops will be hosted by the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) Alaska Fisheries Science Center in a conference room of
the Western Regional Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), at 7600 Sand Point Way, Seattle. They will be
held sequentially on the last day of the Larval Fish Conference and
joint meetings, Wednesday, 2 July 1997, which is reserved for special
events and field trips. Tentative schedule is 8:30-9:30 AM for the
(tentative) 1-hr review and demonstration of image enhancement
techniques, 10-12 AM for otolith and scale analysis, 1-3 PM for sample
processing, and 3:30-5:30 PM for taxonomic analysis.
These "how-to" workshops are intended to bring together persons
successfully using, trying to use, or interested in using computer
image analysis techniques for the applications specified. However,
they will be open to all interested persons registered for the joint
meetings (registration covers all groups including the Larval Fish
Conference--see below). Workshop objectives for each of the three
categories of applications are to describe, demonstrate, and discuss:
(1) typical, alternative, and supplemental image-analysis techniques
(procedures), (2) limitations to and difficulties or problems with
these or similar techniques, and, hopefully, (3) solutions to some of
those problems.
A few computer systems with at least Optimas image-analysis software
installed will be available for the workshops (additional computers
may be brought by workshop presenters). Although one workshop
computer system will likely include a frame grabber and camera
attached to a dissecting microscope, and possibly another to a
compound microscope, most demonstrations of techniques, special
routines, macros, or problem situations should be based on images
previously saved to diskette.
The workshops will generally begin with prearranged presentations of
techniques by more experienced participants with subsequent discussion
of presentation-related questions, problems, and comments by other
participants. Techniques, procedures, or utilities developed for taxa
other than fish may be presented and discussed, but they should be
potentially applicable to work on early life stages of fish. An
overhead computer-display projector will be available for
demonstrations. When appropriate, presenters are encouraged to
provide step-by-step instructional handouts and (or) downloadable
copies of their own or public-domain routines or macros. Open
discussion of presented and other application-related procedures,
routines, macros, limitations, problems, and solutions will follow.
During the concluding portion of each workshop, interested
participants will be able to gather around workshop computers for some
"hands-on" experience with presented techniques, a look at additional
routines or macros brought by presenters or attendees, or work on
solutions to specific problems. Attendees should probably be prepared
with a few blank diskettes and copies of images representing difficult
or problem situations.
Persons interested in leading a workshop should contact Darrel
Snyder. Persons wishing to demonstrate and discuss a specific image-
analysis application, procedure, or related utility, macro, or problem
should contact the appropriate workshop leader. See "workshop
contacts" below.
Optimas Corporation, conveniently located in nearby Bothell,
Washington, and producer of Optimas, a commercial image analysis
program used by many fish biologists, is co-convener of these
workshops. As such, they are generously helping to organize the
workshops and will provide some hardware and most of the image
analysis software. Most importantly, they will contribute their
technical expertise, as needed, in the actual proceedings of these
workshops. Alternative image-analysis programs, possibly some based
on Macintosh rather than IBM-compatible computers, may be used in some
presentations and demonstrations. Although the techniques or
approaches presented and discussed in these workshops will likely be
specific to Optimas or other image analysis programs, most are
expected to be adaptable to alternative commercial, in-house, or
public-domain programs. The workshops will not be used to directly
compare or promote any specific commercial programs.
As a condition for use of facilities for our workshops, commercial
product promotions and sales will not be allowed on NOAA property.
However, we encourage image-analysis software and related equipment
companies or vendors (computers, frame grabbers, cameras, lens, and
microscopes) to setup and operate commercial exhibits during the
regular sessions of the joint meeting, 27 June through 1 July. Such
exhibits will allow image analysis workshop and other meeting
participants to visit, compare, and discuss competing programs, system
configurations, and costs. These matters will not be addressed as
part of the workshops. Firms interested in making arrangements for
commercial exhibits during the joint meetings should contact the Local
Subcommittee for Exhibitors, Vendors, and Advertising (for now,
contact Local Committee Co-chair Ted Pietsch--see "more information"
below).
WORKSHOP CONTACTS
Conveners:
Darrel E. Snyder, Larval Fish Laboratory, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 USA; telephone 970-
491-5295; e-mail [log in to unmask]
and
Susan Wallace and Dennis Kaill, Optimas Corporation, 18911 North
Creek Parkway, Bothell, Washington 98011 USA; telephone 206-
402-8888, e-mail [log in to unmask] (to the attention of Susan
Wallace or Dennis Kaill in subject line).
Facilities:
Morgan S. Busby, NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, Bin C15700 Building 4, Seattle, WA 98115-0070
USA; 206-526-4113; e-mail [log in to unmask]
Workshop 1 Leader (Otolith and Scale Analysis):
Peter Hagen, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25526,
Juneau, Alaska 99801-5526 USA; telephone 907-465-3054; e-mail
[log in to unmask] (if no response,
[log in to unmask]).
Workshop 2 Leader (Sample Processing):
Volunteer Needed (Contact Darrel Snyder)
Workshop 3 Leader (Taxonomic Analysis):
Volunteer Needed (Contact Darrel Snyder)
ASIH JOINT MEETING CONTACTS:
Local Committee Co-chairs:
Ted (Theodore W.) Pietsch, School of Fisheries, University of
Washington, Box 355100, Seattle, Washington 98195-5100 USA;
telephone 206-534-8923; e-mail [log in to unmask]
and
Julia K. Parrish, Zoology Department, University of Washington,
Seattle, Washington, 98195 USA; telephone 206-616-2958; e-mail
[log in to unmask]
Larval Fish Conference/AFS-ELHS Liaison:
Art (Arthur W.) Kendall Jr., National Marine Fisheries Service,
7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg. 4, Seattle, Washington 98115
USA; telephone 206-526-4108; e-mail [log in to unmask]
MORE INFORMATION ON ASIH JOINT MEETINGS:
For the latest details and agenda, visit the ASIH Joint Meeting web
site at http://artedi.fish.washington.edu/asih/asih97.html.
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Darrel E. Snyder Research Associate
Larval Fish Laboratory Curator, LFL Collection
33J Wagar Building Telephone: (970)491-5295
Colorado State University Fax: (970)491-5091
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 E-mail: [log in to unmask]
WEB: http://www.CNR.ColoState.edu/~desnyder/desnyder.html
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