Overview of Image Edge Detection

The task of edge detection is to identify pixels with significant brightness changes as target edges, which is a low-level problem in computer vision, and edge detection has important applications in object recognition and detection, object proposal generation, and image segmentation. Nowadays, edge detection has produced several types of methods, such as traditional gradient-based detection methods and deep learning-based edge detection algorithms and detection methods combined with emerging technologies. A finer classification of these methods provides researchers with a clearer understanding of the trends in edge detection. Firstly, the theoretical basis and implementation methods of traditional edge detection are introduced; then the main edge detection methods in recent years are summarized and classified according to the methods used, and the core techniques used in them are introduced, such as branching structure, feature fusion and loss function. The evaluation indicators used to assess the algorithm’s performance are single-image optimal threshold （ODS）and frame per second（FPS）, which are contrasted using the fundamental data set （BSDS500）. Finally, the current state of edge detection research is examined and summarized, and the possible future research directions of edge detection are prospected. © The Author(s) 2024.