Measurement of the atmospheric families using an image scanner

A possibility to use an image scanner is studied for the measurement of high energy atmospheric families detected in Chacaltaya emulsion chambers. Possible methods to remove noise spots and to identify shower spots in the X-ray films applying image processing techniques are discussed. Shower-spot darkness measured using an image scanner are compared with those measured by the usual photometric method. Also discussed is tracking of shower spots in successive layers of the emulsion chambers using neural-network techniques.