A combinatorial optimization technique for the sequential decomposition of erosions and dilations (Q1856215)

The paper presents a general algorithm for the automatic proof that an erosion (respectively, dilation) has a sequential decomposition or not. If the decomposition exists, an optimum decomposition is presented. The algorithm is based on a branch and bound search, with pruning strategies and bounds based on algebraic and geometrical properties deduced formally. This technique generalizes classical results as Zhuang and Haralick, Xu, and Park and Chin, with equivalent or improved performance. Finally, theoretical analysis of the proposed algorithm and experimental results are presented.