Applied Digital Signal and Image Processing Research Centre (ADSIP)

The Applied Digital Signal and Image Processing Research Centre (ADSIP) is unique in research and development of innovative signal and image processing, 3D/4D computer vision, radiation effects and instrumentation, as well as interactive and immersive digital environments through cross-fertilisation of ideas, exchange of results, and integration of approaches among multiple academic disciplines and application sectors.

Funded extensively by a diverse range of grant bodies and industry, ADSIP has led and collaborated with top research centres and world leading companies in a wide range of cutting edge research projects for various sectors such as aerospace, environment, manufacturing, medical, nuclear and submarine.

In industrial non-destructive evaluation, ADSIP collaborates with world leading aerospace companies and has developed a rich body of signal and image processing technologies for comprehensive, fast, and reliable inspection for advanced, complex shaped and large aerostructures based on various measurement modalities such as acoustography, acousto-ultrasound, radiography, shearography, thermography and ultrasound including phased-array ultrasound and laser ultrasound.

In medical non-invasive diagnosis, ADSIP leads a large European network on Engineering and Computational Science for Oncology; has pioneered acoustic emission and dynamic 3D facial scan as new paradigms for clinical assessment of knees based on joint movement and facial dysfunctions linked to stroke; and has developed a plethora of algorithms and software tools for improved planning and monitoring of cancer radiation therapy.

In radiation effects and instrumentation, ADSIP is the only UK partner of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory on high resolution coronal imaging for solar observations. With access to top neutron test facilities in the world (Los Alamos, TRIUMF, TSL), ADSIP collaborates closely with world leading aerospace companies on managing cosmic radiation on avionics, and with STFC on development of the world-leading Chipir beamline at ISIS.

In interactive and immersive digital environment, there is a wide range of research activities in this area from European wide collaboration on hyperspectral remote imaging of environment and regional collaboration on civil applications of unmanned aerial vehicles to various unique cross-disciplinary collaborations such as with sign linguists on dynamic hand gesture recognition for direct sign writing for the deaf community, with psychologists on development of one of the most comprehensive 3D dynamic facial articulation database, and with sport scientists on development of the world’s first interactive and immersive two player table tennis game.

Industrial non-destructive evaluation

The research expertise in this area covers a full spectrum of signal and image processing technologies to achieve automatic diagnosis and prognosis of aerospace and submarine structures based on multiple measurement modalities. Examples include:

Enhancement of signals and images severely corrupted by noise through exploitation of advanced computational techniques to increase measurement sensitivity;
Automatic high-precision mosaic construction to merge multiple and sparse images acquired from a physically large structure into a complete image;
Ultrasonic tomography based on full-matrix capture ultrasonic array;
Automatic 3D reconstruction of internal structures based on restricted and incomplete data sets;
Computer assisted geometric measurement via automatic image registration with component CAD models for complex structures to reduce data analysis time;
Computer assisted defect detection via CAD model based structure decomposition and computer assisted material evaluation (such as porosity content and bonding quality);
Intelligent fusion and integrated visualisation of inter-modality, multi-modality, and multi-dimension data sets (such as ultrasound, radiography and shearography) to increase of defect detectability and structure evaluation reliability;
Life cycle monitoring by computer assisted prognosis based on trend trajectory in transformed feature space.

Particularly significant impacts are:

Improved the safety and competitiveness of European aircrafts through the development and deployment of innovative signal and image processing technology to increase defect detectability and assessment reliability at reduced inspection time and costs;

A comprehensive set of algorithms and software tools for improved radiation therapy planning and delivery;

One of the most comprehensive dynamic 3D databases of human facial expressions for the research community and a novel statistical surface deformation model for facial articulations;

Dynamic 3D facial scan for face based health monitoring;

Commercially available Joint Acoustic Analysis System (JAAS) as a new clinical tool for dynamic knee joint assessment and a breakthrough discovery of acoustic emission based biomarker linked to knee ageing and degeneration;

Patented technology on a novel neutron spectrometer; and

Highest ever resolution images of the solar corona.

Head of Centre: Professor Lik-Kwan Shark

Dr Bashar Alrjoub
Dr Pedro H. Castellano
Professor Trevor Terrell (Emeritus Professor)
Professor Wenbo Mei (Beijing Institute of Technology)
Dr Mike Pywell (BAE Systems)
Dr Peter Dunne (AD Group)

Academic Staff

Dr Darren Ansell
Dr Geoff Hall
Dr Fraser Hatfield
Professor Bogdan Matuszewski
Dr Stephen Mein
Dr Wei Quan
Dr Martin Varley

Honorary Research Fellows

Contact Details:

ADSIP Research Centre University of Central Lancashire C&T Building, Fylde Road Preston Lancashire PR1 2HE UK

Telephone, Fax and Email

Tel: +44 (0)1772 893312 (for general enquiries) Tel: +44 (0)1772 893253 (for contacting Prof. Lik-Kwan Shark, Head of the Centre) Fax: +44 (0)1772 892915 Email: (for general enquiries) cepsoffice@uclan.ac.uk Email: (for contacting Prof. Lik-Kwan Shark, Head of the Centre) LShark@uclan.ac.uk

Current Funded Projects

Automatic defect seeking and geometry characterisation by intelligent beam forming and scanning through ultrasonic arrays, funded by BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines.
Acoustic emission as a non-invasive biomarker for quantitative dynamic assessment of knee joint repair in clinical trials and stratified medicine, funded by MRC, in collaboration with Lancaster University and Imorphics Ltd., and supported by Blackpool Teaching Hospital, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, National Institute for Health Research Cumbria and Lancashire Comprehensive Local Research Networks, University College London Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University Hospital of Morecambe Bay, Universities of Liverpool and Manchester.
En-ComE: Energy harvesting powered wireless monitoring systems based on integrated smart composite structures and energy-aware architecture, funded by EPSRC, in collaboration with AgustaWestland, BAE Systems, Cranfield University, DSTL, TRW Conekt, and Zartech.
(SEMEOTICONS), funded by EU 7th Framework Programme, in collaboration with the Italian National Research Council (CNR), the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) in Greece, Linköping University in Sweden, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Rhône-Alpes in France, INTECS and COSMED in Italy, FORTHNET S.A. in Greece, and DRACO Systems in Spain.
Enclosed space neutron spectrometer: Proof of concept, funded by STFC.
Growing autonomous system mission management applications (GAMMA), funded by RGF, in collaboration with North West Aerospace Alliance, BAE Systems, National Nuclear Laboratory, and Universities of Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester, and Salford.
3D tomographic display and analysis of FMC acquisition, funded by BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines, in collaboration with University of Bristol and AMEC.
High-Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C), in collaboration with NASA and Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

Previous Funded Projects

Feasibility study for assessing the use of dynamic 3D imaging system for quantification of facial dysfunctions, funded by National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network.
(TeRaFS), funded by EPSRC, in collaboration with Christie Hospital, Liverpool John Moores University, Cergy Pontoise University, Preston Acute Hospitals Trust, and Universitat Otto-von-Guericke Magdeburg. Technology in radiotherapy feasibility studies
Computer assisted inspection and 3D visualisation of foreplane, funded by BAE Systems.
(ECSON), funded by EPSRC, in collaboration with 10 partners from Europe and USA. Engineering and Computational Science for Oncology Network
Deformable registration of volumetric images with incomplete or missing data, funded by British Council and Polish National Research Council, in collaboration with AGH University of Science and Technology in Poland.
Single event effects design for electronics reliability (SEEDER), funded by TSB, in collaboration with BAE Systems, MBDA, Smiths Aerospace, Goodrich, QinetiQ, and Universities of Lancaster and Surrey.
Metrology guided radiation therapy (MEGURATH), funded by EPSRC, in collaboration with Christie Hospital and Liverpool John Moores University.
Acoustic emission: a new technique for assessing and monitoring knee arthritis, funded by ARC.
PACCAR Robotics and Vision Laboratory, funded by PACCAR.
Preservation of aerospace electronic system reliability in the atmospheric neutron environment (SPAESRANE), funded by DTI, in collaboration with BAE Systems, MBDA, Smiths Aerospace, Goodrich, QinetiQ, and Universities of Lancaster and Surrey.
Biofeedback in immersive digital environments for medicine, sports and rehabilitation, funded by HEFCE.
Dynamic real-time disparity maps with Catmull-Clark surface models, funded by Vision, Video and Graphics EPSRC network of excellence, in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University.
(PIMHAI), funded by EU INTERREG IIIB and in collaboration with seven European partners. Platform for analysis of multispectral and hyperspectral images from acquisition to interpretation for environmental monitoring and decision making
Visualisation of complex data sets, funded by HEFCE.
Enhanced CAD based NDT software for foreplane inspection, funded by BAE Systems.
Technologies and techniques for new maintenance concepts (TATEM), funded by 6th EU Framework Programme and in collaboration with 70 European partners.
Structure integrity evaluation of superplastic forming and diffusion bonded aircraft components by ultrasonic phased array system, funded by R/D Tech.
Integration of nondestructive testing (INDeT), funded by EU 5th Framework Programme and in collaboration with 13 European partners.
Ultrasonic signal processing for automatic evaluation of diffusion bonding quality, funded by BAE Systems.
Structural integrity evaluation by 3D ultrasonic non-destructive testing, funded by HEFCE.
Improved NDE concepts for innovative aircraft structures and efficient operational maintenance (INCA), funded by EU 5th Framework Programme and in collaboration with 18 partners from Europe, Canada and USA.
Advancing acoustography for rapid non-destructive inspection of complex aircraft structures, funded by EPSRC, and in collaboration with BAE Systems and Santec Systems in USA.
CAD based NDT data processing and visualisation, funded by Alenia Aerospazio in Italy.
Advanced integrated NDT concepts for unified life-cycle (INDUCE), funded by EU 4th Framework Programme and in collaboration with 13 European partners.
Lossless image compression of multi-data sets for multi-sensor non-destructive testing systems, funded by British Council and Hong Kong Research Grants Council, and in collaboration with City University of Hong Kong.
Data integration and processing system for non-destructive testing of aircraft components (DIAPS), funded by EPSRC and in collaboration with BAE Aerospace.

Completed Research Degree Projects

Development and management of high-fidelity test technology for comprehensive performance evaluation of electronic warfare systems in multi-thread environments, PhD (by Publication).
Biometric person identification using near-infrared hand-dorsa vein images, PhD.
Segmentation of cell structure in fluorescent confocal microscopy images, MPhil.
Neutron beam monitoring for single-event effects testing, PhD.
Diffeomorphic image registration with applications to deformation modelling between multiple data sets, PhD.
Tracking moving objects in surveillance video, PhD.
Development of immersive and interactive virtual reality environment for two-player table tennis, PhD.
Development of an intelligent robotic manipulator, MSc(Res).
Design and analysis of OFDM system for power line based communication, MSc(Res).
Spherical image processing for immersive visualisation and view generation, PhD.
Real-time immersive human-computer interaction based on tracking and recognition of dynamic hand gestures, PhD.
Discovery of acoustic emission based biomarkers for quantitative assessment of knee joint ageing and degeneration, PhD.
Fast motion estimation algorithms for block-based video coding encoders, PhD.
Development and evaluation of an electromyography biofeedback-based virtual reality system for hand motion rehabilitation, PhD.
Boolean weightless neural network architectures, PhD.
Investigation of intensity correction in the context of image registration, MPhil.
Characterizing the influence of neutron fields in causing single-event effects using portable detectors, PhD.
Improved qualification of vascular abnormalities in CE-MRA images, PhD.
3-D facial expression representation using statistical shape models, PhD.
Estimation of 3D human motion kinematics model from multiple cameras, PhD.
Monte Carlo solution to the inverse problem of ultrasonic defect characterisation, PhD.
Image-based rendering for visualisation of 3D scenes in pseudo real-time, PhD.
Automatic pre-treatment validation in radiotherapy by computer aided 3D-2D image alignment, PhD.
Development of image processing systems for cosmic ray effects analysis, PhD.
Feature-based automatic registration of images with 2D and 3D models, PhD.
Advancing acoustography by multidimensional signal processing techniques, PhD.
Developing acoustic emission technology for knee joint assessment, MSc(Res).
Measurement and analysis of dynamic loading in the equine hoof, PhD.
Registration of images containing rigid structures using deformable models and its medical application, PhD.
Effective and efficient non-destructive testing of large and complex shaped aircraft structures, PhD.
Automatic image alignment for clinical evaluation of patient setup errors in radiotherapy, PhD.
Lossless image compression for aerospace non-destructive testing applications, PhD.
Selective lossless retention of critical thermal data within highly compressed thermal video sequences, PhD.
A study of computing methods for solving large electromagnetic hazards problems, PhD.
Development and analysis of hierarchical feedforward neural network systems for classification of motor neurone disease based on magnetic resonance spectra, PhD.
Low-noise frequency synthesis and picosecond timing for satellite laser ranging systems, PhD.
Robust hardware elements for weightless artificial neural networks, PhD.
Electrocardiogram signal processing and classification using neural network computing, MPhil.
Wavelet-like filter banks for multi-dimensional and multi-resolution signal processing, MPhil.
Spherical mosaic construction using physical analogy for consistent image alignment, PhD.
An investigation into self-test concepts in reconfigurable modular avionics systems, MPhil.
Automated testing of infusion devices, MPhil.
Lossy compression of speech using perceptual criteria, PhD.
An investigation of neural computing applied to the ambulatory monitoring of the electrocardiogram, MPhil.
JPEG-like image compression using neural-network-based block classification and adaptive reordering of transform coefficients, PhD.
Machine vision system developments for industrial inspection applications, PhD.
Nonuniform subband coding of high quality audio signals employing frequency warping, PhD.
Satellite image processing for remote sensing applications, PhD.
An investigation of digital image compression techniques, MPhil.
An investigation of neural networks for image processing applications, PhD.
Image feature matching using polynomial representation of chain codes, PhD.
Computer aided analysis of human iris topography and its relationship to systemic disease, PhD.
Feature extraction from millimetre wave radar images, PhD.
An interactive teletext system for special information services, MPhil.