Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization

Multi-threshold segmentation of color images is a critical component of modern image processing. However, as the number of thresholds increases, traditional multi-threshold image segmentation methods face challenges such as low accuracy and slow convergence speed. To optimize threshold selection in...

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Main Authors: Yunlong Hu, Liangkuan Zhu, Hongyang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Mathematics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/13/7/1212
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author Yunlong Hu
Liangkuan Zhu
Hongyang Zhao
author_facet Yunlong Hu
Liangkuan Zhu
Hongyang Zhao
author_sort Yunlong Hu
collection DOAJ
description Multi-threshold segmentation of color images is a critical component of modern image processing. However, as the number of thresholds increases, traditional multi-threshold image segmentation methods face challenges such as low accuracy and slow convergence speed. To optimize threshold selection in color image segmentation, this paper proposes a multi-strategy improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization (MIEEFO). The proposed algorithm integrates Differential Evolution and Quasi-Opposition-Based Learning strategies into the Electric Eel Foraging Optimization, enhancing its search capability, accelerating convergence, and preventing the population from falling into local optima. To further boost the algorithm’s search performance, a Cauchy mutation strategy is applied to mutate the best individual, improving convergence speed. To evaluate the segmentation performance of the proposed MIEEFO, 15 benchmark functions are used, and comparisons are made with seven other algorithms. Experimental results show that the MIEEFO algorithm outperforms other algorithms in at least 75% of cases and exhibits similar performance in up to 25% of cases. To further explore its application potential, a multi-level Kapur entropy-based MIEEFO threshold segmentation method is proposed and applied to different types of benchmark images and forest fire images. Experimental results indicate that the improved MIEEFO achieves higher segmentation quality and more accurate thresholds, providing a more effective method for color image segmentation.
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spelling doaj-art-b65c47e60ea343ada3c8cf038959e2d52025-08-20T02:09:11ZengMDPI AGMathematics2227-73902025-04-01137121210.3390/math13071212Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging OptimizationYunlong Hu0Liangkuan Zhu1Hongyang Zhao2College of Computer and Control Engineering, Northeast Foresty University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 15004, ChinaCollege of Computer and Control Engineering, Northeast Foresty University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 15004, ChinaCollege of Computer and Control Engineering, Northeast Foresty University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 15004, ChinaMulti-threshold segmentation of color images is a critical component of modern image processing. However, as the number of thresholds increases, traditional multi-threshold image segmentation methods face challenges such as low accuracy and slow convergence speed. To optimize threshold selection in color image segmentation, this paper proposes a multi-strategy improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization (MIEEFO). The proposed algorithm integrates Differential Evolution and Quasi-Opposition-Based Learning strategies into the Electric Eel Foraging Optimization, enhancing its search capability, accelerating convergence, and preventing the population from falling into local optima. To further boost the algorithm’s search performance, a Cauchy mutation strategy is applied to mutate the best individual, improving convergence speed. To evaluate the segmentation performance of the proposed MIEEFO, 15 benchmark functions are used, and comparisons are made with seven other algorithms. Experimental results show that the MIEEFO algorithm outperforms other algorithms in at least 75% of cases and exhibits similar performance in up to 25% of cases. To further explore its application potential, a multi-level Kapur entropy-based MIEEFO threshold segmentation method is proposed and applied to different types of benchmark images and forest fire images. Experimental results indicate that the improved MIEEFO achieves higher segmentation quality and more accurate thresholds, providing a more effective method for color image segmentation.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/13/7/1212electric eel foraging optimizationswarm intelligencemulti-threshold image segmentationKapur’s entropy
spellingShingle Yunlong Hu
Liangkuan Zhu
Hongyang Zhao
Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization
Mathematics
electric eel foraging optimization
swarm intelligence
multi-threshold image segmentation
Kapur’s entropy
title Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization
title_full Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization
title_fullStr Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization
title_full_unstemmed Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization
title_short Multistage Threshold Segmentation Method Based on Improved Electric Eel Foraging Optimization
title_sort multistage threshold segmentation method based on improved electric eel foraging optimization
topic electric eel foraging optimization
swarm intelligence
multi-threshold image segmentation
Kapur’s entropy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/13/7/1212
work_keys_str_mv AT yunlonghu multistagethresholdsegmentationmethodbasedonimprovedelectriceelforagingoptimization
AT liangkuanzhu multistagethresholdsegmentationmethodbasedonimprovedelectriceelforagingoptimization
AT hongyangzhao multistagethresholdsegmentationmethodbasedonimprovedelectriceelforagingoptimization