Title
Virtually lossless compression of astrophysical images
Abstract
We describe an image compression strategy potentially capable of preserving the scientific quality of astrophysical data, simultaneously allowing a consistent bandwidth reduction to be achieved. Unlike strictly lossless techniques, by which moderate compression ratios are attainable, and conventional lossy techniques, in which the mean square error of the decoded data is globally controlled by users, near-lossless methods are capable of locally constraining the maximum absolute error, based on user's requirements. An advanced lossless/near-lossless differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) scheme, recently introduced by the authors and relying on a causal spatial prediction, is adjusted to the specific characteristics of astrophysical image data (high radiometric resolution, generally low noise, etc.). The background noise is preliminarily estimated to drive the quantization stage for high quality, which is the primary concern in most of astrophysical applications. Extensive experimental results of lossless, near-lossless, and lossy compression of astrophysical images acquired by the Hubble space telescope show the advantages of the proposed method compared to standard techniques like JPEG-LS and JPEG2000. Eventually, the rationale of virtually lossless compression, that is, a noise-adjusted lossles/near-lossless compression, is highlighted and found to be in accordance with concepts well established for the astronomers' community.
Year
DOI
Venue
2005
10.1155/ASP.2005.2521
EURASIP J. Adv. Sig. Proc.
Keywords
Field
DocType
lossy compression,astrophysical image,lossless compression,compression ratio,astrophysical image data,astrophysical data,near-lossless compression,image compression strategy,advanced lossless,astrophysical application
Background noise,Computer science,Theoretical computer science,Artificial intelligence,JPEG 2000,Computer vision,Data compression ratio,Lossy compression,Algorithm,Data compression,Quantization (signal processing),Image compression,Lossless compression
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
2005,
15
1687-6180
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
5
0.48
21
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Cinzia Lastri1504.28
Bruno Aiazzi227527.84
Luciano Alparone390180.27
Stefano Baronti455950.87