Galaxy Morphology Near and Far: Machine-Automated Approaches

I will discuss recent efforts to assemble and analyse a multi-band (UBVRIJH) galaxy image library for the purpose of quantifying the structural properties of nearby and distant galaxies. We wish to study the evolutionary changes in galaxy morphology by combining data from modern space-based instruments with new quantitive methods of image analysis. Using new Fourier-based automated surface photometry methods (Odewahn 2002) along with pattern classifiers employing artifical neural networks (Odewhan 1992) we have developed a methodolgy for assessing the presence and strength of many of the morphological structures observed in disk galaxies (bars, rings, spiral arms). I will review the role of systematic cosmological effects like surface brightness dimming and rest-frame bandpass shifting in assessing morphological structure. The ultimate goal is to assess the development of disk galaxies in the range 0<z<2 and hence directly address fundamental questions regarding galaxy formation and evolution.