2D feature detection via local energy

Accurate detection and localisation of two-dimensional (2D) image features (or 'key-points') is important for vision tasks such as structure from motion, stereo matching and line labelling. Despite this interest, no one has produced an adequate definition of 2D image features that encompasses the variety of features that should be included under this banner. In this paper, we present a new method for the detection of 2D image features that relies upon maximal 2D order in the phase domain of the image signal. Points of maximal phase congruency correspond to all the different types of 2D features detected by other schemes, including grey-level corners, line terminations, and a variety of junctions. An assessment of our implementation's performance is provided, in terms of its robustness, accuracy of detection and localisation of 2D image features.