Reproducible research, software quality, online interfaces and publishing for image processing

• Main Author: Limare, Nicolas
• Language: ENG
• Published: École normale supérieure de Cachan - ENS Cachan 2012
• Subjects: [INFO:INFO_OH] Computer Science/Other; [INFO:INFO_OH] Informatique/Autre; Scientific publications; Reproducible research; Images processing
• Online Access: http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00752569; http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/75/25/69/PDF/Limare2012.pdf

This thesis is based on a study of reproducibility issues in image processing research. We designed, created and developed a scientific journal, Image Processing On Line (IPOL), in which articles are published with a complete implementation of the algorithms described, validated by the rapporteurs. A demonstration web service is attached, allowing testing of the algorithms with freely submitted data and an archive of previous experiments. We also propose copyrights and license policy, suitable for manuscripts and research software software, and guidelines for the evaluation of software. The IPOL scientific project seems very beneficial to research in image processing. With the detailed examination of the implementations and extensive testing via the demonstration web service, we publish articles of better quality. IPOL usage shows that this journal is useful beyond the community of its authors, who are generally satisfied with their experience and appreciate the benefits in terms of understanding of the algorithms, quality of the software produced, and exposure of their works and opportunities for collaboration. With clear definitions of objects and methods, and validated implementations, complex image processing chains become possible.