To study shape we introduce manifolds and submanifolds examined in the continuum as the generators. Transformations are constructed which are built from the matrix groups and infinite products. This gives rise to many of the widely used structural models in image analysis often termed active models, essentially the deformable templates. These deformations are studied as both diffeomorphisms as well as immersions. A calculus is introduced based on transport theory for activating these deformable shapes by taking variations with respect to the matrix groups parameterizing them. Segmentation based on activating these manifolds is examined based on Gaussian random fields and variations with respect to the parameterizations.
Determining the similarity of deformable shapes
