Digital Image and Video Processing
Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering • Trinity College Dublin
Module Overview
In 2016-2024, I taught EEU44C08 / EEP55M08, an advanced undergraduate and postgraduate module exploring the digital signal processing algorithms at the core of image and video technology, visual media processing, and data compression.
The curriculum bridges mathematical foundations of two-dimensional signal processing—including 2D transforms and multirate filter banks—with practical compression standards (JPEG, MPEG-2) and hands-on MATLAB problem-solving laboratories.
Core Topics Covered
Human Visual Perception & Media Formats
Physiology of the human visual system, contrast sensitivity, colour spaces, luminance-chrominance representations (YUV, YCbCr), and chroma subsampling (4:2:2, 4:2:0).
2D Signal Processing & Spatial Filtering
2D convolution, linear and non-linear spatial filtering, edge and gradient operators, 2D Z-transforms, and 2D Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFT).
Image Transforms & JPEG Compression
Unitary image transforms, 2D Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Haar transform, discrete wavelet transforms (DWT), quantisation matrices, run-length encoding, and Huffman entropy coding.
Motion Estimation & Video Compression
Inter-frame temporal redundancy, block-matching motion estimation, sub-pixel search, motion compensation, and hybrid video codec architectures (MPEG-2 I, P, and B frames).
Laboratories & Assessment
The module combined theoretical lectures with four hands-on MATLAB problem-solving laboratory assignments covering spatial filtering, transform coding, motion estimation algorithms, and video compression. Assessment was based on continuous laboratory coursework and an end-of-year written examination.