Measuring how often and how long some objects come into contact with each other can be a useful tool in biological relationship analysis. This guide explains how grouping combined with tracking can provide this information.
Quantifying contacts over time
Segmenting Objects
The key to identifying interactions is to tag subjects based on their proximity to or overlap with reference objects. To enable this step both types of objects must first be segmented and classified. Use any segmentation tool that is appropriate and use filters if necessary to identify only those segmented objects that are likely subject by, for example, not tagging objects outside of specific volume ranges or other features.
Interpreting the data
Having tracked the objects, there are a few things that can be done to help interpret the data and extract the required information. Most of it is done from the Objects table.
Object Colouring
First, in the object colouring options, setting the track colour to match the segment colour makes is really easy to see in the viewer if a tracked object makes contact and where.
And this colouring also affects the track editor: