• University of Basel logo

Statistical Shape Modelling: Computing the Human Anatomy

Learn the technology of modelling, as used in computational face recognition or in surgeries, with this free online course.

7,615 enrolled on this course

An image of a human head created using statistical shape modelling
  • Duration

    8 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Statistical shape models are one of the most important technologies in computer vision and medical image analysis. With this technology, the computer learns the characteristic shape variations of an object or organ. The model resulting from this analysis may then be used in implant design, image analysis, surgery planning and many other fields.

In this free online course, you will get insights from mathematics, statistics and machine learning, in order to address practical problems, as well as a theoretical and practical introduction to the open source software Scalismo.

This software is used today for the automatic detection of organs in medical images or the design of medical implants. You will come to a point where you can use your acquired skills and knowledge for real-world professional applications or academic research.

Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 8 seconds Medical imaging produces an ever-growing amount of data. The volume becomes such that it is too large for humans to handle. Doctors generally are well trained to spot anomalies quite quickly when they work through the data. However, they need to make good use of their time. This means that they will focus on the body part they think crucial to the diagnosis of the patient. They might miss important information that originates from other sections of the anatomy. In this context, a software framework which allows us to create shapes from medical imaging, while at the same time comparing these shapes to a data set representative of a large part of the population, is invaluable.

Skip to 0 minutes and 56 seconds It will not only allow doctors to work more quickly, but combined with their experience, will make diagnosis more accurate. This is where shape modelling comes in. We study the variation of anatomical shapes and model it mathematically. Knowing shape variations will allow us to analyse images, detect anomalies, and complete missing data. This knowledge and software will not only help diagnosis, its application is also useful in surgery, prosthesis planning, or in general medical education. In this free online course, you will learn the theory of shape modelling. You will be instructed in the use of a software framework suitable for professional applications, and you shall have the opportunity to do hands-on manipulation of data using the software framework.

Skip to 1 minute and 51 seconds By the end of this course, you will be able not only to decide whether a person’s nose is too big, too small, or just right, if compared to a statistical mean value, you will also be able to model a suitable nose for a person needing a new nose. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

Who is the course for?

This course is intended for students and professionals with a Masters in computer science, medical imaging professionals and biological anthropologists, who are interested in top-notch research, scientific insights and a useful application.

Although you can watch the videos, read the articles, and complete the tests and quizzes on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, you will have to install the free software Scalismo on your own workstation in order to use it – there is no online version available.

In order to be able to do this, your computer should meet the following minimum system requirements: Windows (32bit/64bit), Mac OS X or Linux (64bit), 4GB of RAM, 500MB of free HD space. There are no special requirements for the graphic adapter.

What do people say about this course?

"Very excellent course. Great mix of theory and practical application."

Who will you learn with?

I am researcher in computer science at the University of Basel. My research focus is the mathematical modelling of shapes and its application to medical image analysis.

I am a scientific collaborator at the mathematics and computer science department of the University of Basel and one of the developers of Scalismo: https://github.com/unibas-gravis/scalismo

Who developed the course?

University of Basel

The University of Basel has an international reputation of outstanding achievements in research and teaching.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLstatisticalshapes to talk about this course on social media.