Focus Projects for Student Involvement in Researching the Scientific Properties of the Shroud of Turin by Ray Schneider Assistant Professor Math and Computer Science Bridgewater College, VA Š 2008 R. Schneider
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Involving the Future Generation • Each Generation Has A Responsibility to Inspire the Next • Failing that a Discipline Ends until a New Pioneer takes it up again • This Is a summary account of a project to develop Focus Projects to involve student researchers in the Shroud Adventure
© 2008 R. Schneider
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Focus Projects • A Focus Project is Vision Centered • It is on-going, forming part of a larger reality • Each Contribution to a Focus Project advances towards the goals • Here the Goal is Understanding the Shroud of Turin http://www.bridgewater.edu/~rschneid/FocusProjects/focus_projects.htm © 2008 R. Schneider
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Building Understanding • One Brick at a Time • Requires – Tools – Knowledge – Work
© 2008 R. Schneider
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Tools we restrict our attention to image analysis • Materials: ex. Detailed Images • Analysis and Programming Tools (ex. Imaging), examples: – CVIPtools – ImageJ – GIMP – PIL The DVD – MatLab Shroud Science Kit – Photoshop – and many other tools are readily available © 2008 R. Schneider
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Work = Suggested Projects • The following eleven projects are illustrative. Each is briefly presented with a – TITLE – BRIEF SYNOPSIS – SUMMARY GOALS
• Some projects can be divided into subprojects because they are large and complex © 2008 R. Schneider
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1. Universal Coordinate System • Used to allow the transfer of coordinates from one image of the shroud to another – input: universal coordinates, and image – output: specific coordinates in the image – There are issues of precision since the shroud is a flexible object and will vary from showing to showing – ex. See examples of different images at http://www.bridgewater.edu/~rschneid/ FocusProjects/Shroud/ShroudMeasure/shroudCal.html © 2008 R. Schneider
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1. Universal Coordinate System Take a coordinate set from one image and translate it to another by going through a universal intermediate.
Universal Transformation
Durante 2000 Š 2008 R. Schneider
Schwortz 1978
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2. Color Normalization • Transformation of colors from one image of the shroud to another to achieve maximum uniformity – study of transformation between color systems – modifying images to achieve uniformity of illumination – form comparison matching colors, illumination, contrast, etc. as closely as possible © 2008 R. Schneider
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3. Color Segmentation • Create algorithms for dividing the shroud up analytically into blood, image, cloth, water stain, dirt, bands, etc. regions – classification may depend on color, texture, luminance, and combinations of attributes – ideally such classification should work on multiple images after (2.) Color Normalization.
© 2008 R. Schneider
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4. Banding Studies • Reflected and transmitted light • Reveal density differences and reflectance differences in the cloth of the shroud © 2008 R. Schneider
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5. Study of Blood Markings • Distinguish features of wounds and the manner of their infliction
© 2008 R. Schneider
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6. Development of Shroud Feature Classification Spaces • Features Can Be Based on – Point Measures – Area Analyses – Combinations of heterogeneous metrics
• Typically Features would be collected in a Database for retrieval © 2008 R. Schneider
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7. Taxonomy / Data Space of Shroud Images and Co-functional Viewer • Highly Interactive Database on the Shroud over the Internet serving dynamic information and analyses.
documents database server images Š 2008 R. Schneider
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8. Weave Rider
1. Extract the Weave Elements 2. Analyze each “brick” 3. Classify each “brick” 4. Develop Statistics and feature sets http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1435443261/bctid1435496345 © 2008 R. Schneider
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9. Blood Flow Analysis • Develop analytical models for both blood characteristics and evolution of blood flow • Source of blood • Time sequencing of blood flow © 2008 R. Schneider
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10. Three Dimensional Information Analysis with Noise Suppression • The question is whether the three dimensional information in the shroud image (see VP-8 and John German’s* transfer function image) can be significantly improved by signal processing * An Electronic Technique for Constructing An Accurate Three-Dimensional Shroud Image by John D. German, Jr. (1977 United States Conference on Research on the Shroud of Turin March 23-24 © 2008 R. Schneider Albuquerque, New Mexico
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11. Replication • Science Depends for its results on replication. Much previous work on the shroud ought to be replicated. – Establishes Results on a Firmer Footing – Ensures that Things possibly overlooked by prior investigators have another chance to be discovered and elucidated.
• Ex. Study of fold marks, water stain study, Prey holes © 2008 R. Schneider
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The Shroud of Turin Focus Project Kit • Probably in Two Versions – The Intermediate Version (low cost)* • Software • Sample Data (intermediate resolution) • Project Definitions
The DVD Shroud Science Kit
Doesn’t Exist Yet
– The Advanced Version • Follow-On based on serious research intent • Comprehensive Data under license (high resolution) • Provided based on Research Proposals * any cost will be only to recover expenses © 2008 R. Schneider
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The Final Objective The Shroud Science Group
• Understand All the Characteristics of the Shroud of Turin to the Extent Possible © 2008 R. Schneider
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