Region of interest (ROI) is the rough translation of “relevant measurement range”. The term is used to refer to the relevant section of a measurement curve. This area can then be regarded preferably statistically. Based on the region of interest (ROI) you can calculate, for example, the maximum value, the average and the width of a peak, as well as the surface under the curve. Measurement curves recorded with the region of interest (ROI) can be, for example, count rates (number per time unit) registered spectrally, in time or along a trajectory.

Regarding the region of interest (ROI) as two- or three-dimensional range is common in the computer-controlled image processing and also in imaging processes. In extreme cases, for a time span there occurs even a four-dimensional view. Often the region of interest is used in medical applications, especially in nuclear medicine. The procedure is also used in computer tomography. In this case the ROIs are multidimensional.

A region of interest is determined manually or by means of an evaluation software (semi- or fully automatic). In industrial image processing with our SmartRay laser scanner fully automatic evaluation, supported by software is predominant.

In semi-automatic ROI an evaluation software supports the user to establish which is the questionable area. The user only specifies a part of the delimitation which is then continued and completed by the evaluation software. With this type of detection, the user can establish roughly the area within which the evaluation software should operate.

In the case of fully automatic evaluation, the evaluation software takes over without any operator intervention the delimitation criteria acting as a framework for the search.