Underwater Colorimetry (Color Measurement)

This is a graduate-level engineering course. The course includes lectures, labs, data collection in the field, and a research project. The course duration is 8 days (Sunday-Sunday); students must commit to attending all days fully.

Course description   

Colorimetry is the science of measuring color. Color is a subjective sensation defined relative to an observer’s visual system (e.g., the human visual system or a camera) and commonly defined for viewing conditions in clear air. This course—the first of its kind in the world—takes the science of color measurement underwater. Through theoretical concepts, computer simulations, and hands-on engineering, we will explore light and quantitative aspects of color, including underwater color image formation, analysis, visualizing color spaces and comparing colors. At the end of this course, students will be able to properly use trichromatic cameras to capture colors underwater (or, in air) in an objective and repeatable manner, select the right color space to perform analyses, and compare colors captured by different systems in a meaningful way which they can then publish as scientific data. This course is a great introduction to underwater computer vision.

 

1. Color producing mechanisms

2. Color perception

3. Color capture (spectrometers, RGB, multi-, hyper-spectral cameras)

4. Image formation in air

5. Digital camera image processing pipeline (i.e., RAW vs. JPG, photofinishing)

6. The CIE (commission internationale de l'eclairage or International Commission on Illumination) system: Colorimetry, Wright-Guild experiments, Standard Observers, CIE XYZ system, RGB system, standard illuminants, CIE chromaticity diagram, color spaces, color difference metrics

7. Image formation underwater

8. Underwater colorimetry

 

 

1. Having completed a linear algebra course with a grade above 85.
2. Having completed a college level physics course with a grade above 85.
3. Intermediate-level or above programming experience (preferably experience with image processing).
4. A diving license or the ability to snorkel is an advantage (but not required).
5. Commitment to attend all 8-days of the course in full.

1. Cell phone use during lectures is not allowed.

2. This is an intense course, and to stay on schedule, it is very important that you come to each lecture on time. A large chunk of the final grade comes from timely and full attendance of lectures and labs.

3. The past years have shown us that the workload of the course, in the timeframe of the course, is not suitable for students with beginner-level programming experience. We provide some of the code (in Matlab), but you will need to write most of it yourself, and in a very short time. Please only sign up for the course if you are comfortable writing code.

4. The software required for the course is available on IUI’s computers (Matlab and Agisoft MetashapePro). You may choose to use your personal laptops – but at your own risk. The teaching staff cannot help resolve version or licensing issues and will not give extensions for delays arising from personal computer issues.

5. Same goes for python — you are welcome to do the required coding in Python, but the teaching staff cannot support you other than discussing pseudocode.

6. As all deliverables of the course are due during the course, only the students who confirm full attendance will be considered. The last day will not be shortened; no exceptions will be made. Please plan your travel to/from Eilat accordingly.

7. Throughout the course, the use of LLMs will be limited to help write better code or refine writing. We check for AI text and past years have shown that students who blindly used AI to “explain” or “discuss” their results generally did not get good grades.

Grade structure

•  Timely lecture attendance and participation (15%)

Course audience

Language of instruction