Wavelet image compression algorithm for side-scan sonar and teleradiology

This wavelet based data compression algorithm addresses a growing need to handle large quantities of image data quickly and efficiently. This wavelet technique has been coded based on the assumption that small coefficients computed by the two-dimensional orthogonal wavelet transform are principally associated with image noise, and only the largest values are required to capture the information content of the respective source image. The approach has been successfully applied to one-dimensional signals in the design of signal classifiers. This particular algorithm for wavelet-based image compression has been designed and compared to the Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) still picture image compression standard. Examples are shown of side scan sonar images, x rays, and laser line scan images.