Iris image compression using wavelets transform coding

Iris recognition system for identity authentication and verification is one of the most precise and accepted biometrics in the world. Portable iris system mostly used in law enforcement applications, has been increasing more rapidly. The portable device, however, requires a narrow-bandwidth communication channel to transmit iris code or iris image. Though a full resolution of iris image is preferred for accurate recognition of individual, to minimize time in a narrow-bandwidth channel for emergency identification, image compression should be used to minimize the size of image. This paper has investigated the effects of compression particularly for iris image based on wavelet transformed image, using Spatial-orientation tree wavelet (STW), Embedded Zero tree Wavelet (EZW) and Set Partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT), to identify the most suitable image compression. In this paper, Haar wavelet transform is utilized for image compression and image decomposition, by varying the decomposition level. The results have been examined in terms of Peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), Mean square Error (MSE), Bit per Pixel Ratio (BPP) and Compression ratio (CR). It has been evidently found that wavelet transform is more effective in the image compression, as recognition performance is minimally affected and the use of Haar transform is ideally suited. CASIA, MMU iris database have been used for this purpose.