Image and Video Technology

3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4016441ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Partnership Agreement

Under interuniversity agreement for degree program

Faculty

Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen

Department

Electronics and Informatics

Educational team

Peter Schelkens (course titular)
Colas Schretter
Saeed Mahmoudpour

Activities and contact hours

15 contact hours Lecture
30 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

This course provides the theoretical background of digital image and video coding and illustrates the use in practical systems such as digital photography, television and cinema. During the exercise sessions the students will apply the aggregated knowledge.

Detailed content:
1. Coding Theory – entropy, lossy and lossless coding, quality measurement, scalar quantisation, rate-distortion optimisation of quantisers, entropy coding (properties of variable length codes, Huffman codes, arithmetic coding, context-dependent entropy coding, adaptive entropy coding, run-length coding, predictive coding, Lempel-Ziv coding), transform coding (DCT transform, subband transforms, wavelet transform, multiresolution decomposition).
2. Still Image Coding – lossless image coding (GIF, PNG, JBIG and JPEG-LS), lossy image coding (JPEG, Embedded zero-tree coding, MPEG-4 Texture coding, JPEG XR, JPEG2000).
3. Video Coding – hybrid video coding (motion compensated hybrid coders, characteristics of interframe prediction signals, quantisation error feedback and propagation, interlaced video coding, "forward, backward, bi-directional and multiframe" prediction, logaritmic and hierachical motion estimation, variable block size motion compensation, sub-pixel accurate motion compensation, global motion compensation), ITU-T (H.261 and H.263) and ISO standards (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, MPEG-4 AVC), scalable video coding (Laplacian pyramids, fine-grain scalability MPEG-4 FGS, motion compensated temporal filtering, MPEG-4 SVC), compression of motion vectors.
4. Adaptation to channel characteristics – rate and transmission control, error protection, error concealment.
5. Applications such as MPEG systems, DVD, digital video broadcast (DVB), media production and distribution platforms & digital cinema.

Course material

Handbook (Recommended) : Multimedia Communication Technology, Representation, Transmission and Identification of Multimedia Signals, J.-R. Ohm, Springer Verlag, 9783642622779, 2012
Handbook (Recommended) : The JPEG 2000 Suite, P. Schelkens, A. Skodras, T. Ebrahimi, Wiley, 9780470721476, 2009
Handbook (Recommended) : Optical and Digital Image Processing, Fundamentals and Applications, G. Cristobal, P. Schelkens, H. Thienpont, Wiley, 9783527409563, 2011
Handbook (Recommended) : Computer Networks, A. S. Tanenbaum, 7e, Prentice Hall, 007041, 2023

Additional info

The course notes of the individual chapters can be downloaded from Pointcarré.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The Master in Engineering Sciences has in-depth knowledge and understanding of

1. exact sciences with the specificity of their application to engineering

2. integrated structural design methods in the framework of a global design strategy

3. the advanced methods and theories to schematize and model complex problems or processes

The Master in Engineering Sciences can

4. reformulate complex engineering problems in order to solve them (simplifying assumptions, reducing complexity)

5. conceive, plan and execute a research project, based on an analysis of its objectives, existing knowledge and the relevant literature, with attention to innovation and valorization in industry and society

6. correctly report on research or design results in the form of a technical report or in the form of a scientific paper

7. present and defend results in a scientifically sound way, using contemporary communication tools, for a national as well as for an international professional or lay audience

9. work in an industrial environment with attention to safety, quality assurance, communication and reporting

10. develop, plan, execute and manage engineering projects at the level of a starting professional

11. think critically about and evaluate projects, systems and processes, particularly when based on incomplete, contradictory and/or redundant information

The Master in Engineering Sciences has

13. a critical attitude towards one’s own results and those of others

14. consciousness of the ethical, social, environmental and economic context of his/her work and

strives for sustainable solutions to engineering problems including safety and quality assurance

aspects

15. the flexibility and adaptability to work in an international and/or intercultural context

16. an attitude of life-long learning as needed for the future development of his/her career

The Master in Electronics and Information Technology Engineering:

17. Has an active knowledge of the theory and applications of electronics, information and communication technology, from component up to system level.

18. Has a profound knowledge of information and communication technology systems

19. Has a broad overview of the role of electronics, informatics and telecommunications in industry, business and society.

20. Is able to analyse, specify, design, implement, test and evaluate individual electronic devices, components and algorithms, for signal-processing, communication and complex systems.

21. Is able to model, simulate, measure and control electronic components and physical phenomena.

22. Is aware of and critical about the impact of electronics, information and communication technology on society.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Theory exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Note: During the oral examination one main question about the content of the course is given in combination with five smaller questions that are covering complementary (i.e. other) parts of the course.

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Practical exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Note: The students are scored based on a number of exercises, including a large one focused on the design of a codec. A written report, as well as a demonstration and an oral reporting are requested for this part of the examination procedure.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The examination exists out of two parts:

1) An oral examination related to the theoretical content. The oral examination exist out of a few larger questions in combination with smaller questions that are covering complementary (i.e. other) parts of the course.

2) A practical examination related to the exercises: the students are scored based on a number of exercises, including a large one focused on the design of a codec. A written report, as well as a demonstration and an oral reporting are requested for this part of the examination procedure.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context