I have recently developed a method for estimating the biovolume of cells with approximately radial symmetry from digital images. The technique works with any image analysis system which allows to measure linear distances and to estimate the surface area of a 2-dimensional digital image (e.g. ImageJ). A single mathematical equation is used to calculate the volume and takes into account the irregularities in cell shape that conventional approaches - based on two linear measures or on pre-determined geometrical shapes - do not.
For example, testing the method with the typical rod with rounded ends, often used as approximation for bacillus-like bacteria:
percent errors are much lower with the new method than with the classic one:
For example, testing the method with the typical rod with rounded ends, often used as approximation for bacillus-like bacteria:
percent errors are much lower with the new method than with the classic one: