Edge Detection Techniques for Rice Grain Quality Analysis using Image Processing Techniques

In agricultural countries like the Philippines, rice grain is considered the most important crop in the world for human consumption as daily food and in the food market, thus quality control must be considered. Rice grain quality evaluation is done manually, which is non-reliable, time-consuming and costly. The quality of rice grain is categorized by the combination of physical and chemical characteristics. Grain appearance, color, size and shape, chalkiness, whiteness, degree of milling, bulk density, foreign matter content, and moisture content are some physical characteristics, while amylose content of the endosperm, gelatinization temperature of the endosperm starch, and Na content are chemical characteristics. This paper presents a solution for the grading and evaluation of rice grains on the basis of grain size and shape using Scilab Image Video Progressing (SIVP) techniques. Specifically, an edge detection algorithm is used to find out the region of the boundaries of each grain. This method requires a minimum of time and is more affordable. Edge detection is vital for its reliability and security, as well as for providing a better understanding of automatic identification in computer vision applications. This study determines the best techniques among the edge detection algorithms

Statistical shape analysis for bio-structures : local shape modelling, techniques and applications

A Statistical Shape Model (SSM) is a statistical representation of a shape obtained from data to study variation in shapes. Work on shape modelling is constrained by many unsolved problems, for instance, difficulties in modelling local versus global variation. SSM have been successfully applied in medical image applications such as the analysis of brain anatomy. Since brain structure is so complex and varies across subjects, methods to identify morphological variability can be useful for diagnosis and treatment. The main objective of this research is to generate and develop a statistical shape model to analyse local variation in shapes. Within this particular context, this work addresses the question of what are the local elements that need to be identified for effective shape analysis. Here, the proposed method is based on a Point Distribution Model and uses a combination of other well known techniques: Fractal analysis; Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods; and the Curvature Scale Space representation for the problem of contour localisation. Similarly, Diffusion Maps are employed as a spectral shape clustering tool to identify sets of local partitions useful in the shape analysis. Additionally, a novel Hierarchical Shape Analysis method based on the Gaussian and Laplacian pyramids is explained and used to compare the featured Local Shape Model. Experimental results on a number of real contours such as animal, leaf and brain white matter outlines have been shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. These results show that local shape models are efficient in modelling the statistical variation of shape of biological structures. Particularly, the development of this model provides an approach to the analysis of brain images and brain morphometrics. Likewise, the model can be adapted to the problem of content based image retrieval, where global and local shape similarity needs to be measured

Numerical and experimental investigation of spectral domain vibration based indicators for structural health monitoring

Structural health monitoring has been defined as the acquisition, validation and analysis of technical data to facilitate life- cycle management decisions. It is the result of a convergent path from many previous existing disciplines the two most influential being condition monitoring for rotary machinery and non-destructive testing. Vibration based testing presents the greatest stage of maturity of all non-destructive techniques applied to structural health monitoring. Although modal domain use is convention, spectral domain data is by nature more complete in information and requires less manipulation. The use of spectral-domain measurements brings the need to develop new damage detection indicators, as much of the literature existing is focused on modal derived damage indicators. In this work, an integrated methodology for the evaluation of some spectral domain vibration based indicators for structural health monitoring is proposed. These indicators, namely the CFDAC and SCIs, are based on the correlation between covariance matrices of frequency response functions obtained from experimental modal analysis. An extensive numerical campaign is performed on a simple structure (consisting on a 1-edge clamped square aluminium plate) over multiple structural alteration scenarios to assess the sensibility and stability of the proposed indexes in front of common acquisition parameters. The ability of the proposed indicators to assess structural alteration progression is also evaluated. This numerical analysis is used as well to observe the relationship between proposed indicators and the residual stiffness of the simple structure evaluated in terms of relative shift from the pristine condition. Finally, the numerical methodology proposed is applied to a different and more complex typology of structure, a 3d latticed and downscaled power transmission tower to investigate the validity of the methodology for other structural configurations. Some of the cases studied in the numeric campaign are later reproduced in experimental scenarios using two specimens of aluminium plates and a downscaled prototype of a power transmission tower. Stability analysis on the indicators are reproduced and confirmed. For the aluminium plates, the relationship between indicators and residual stiffness is also obtained, showing close agreement with numerical data. Sensibility of the indicators to detect different damage typologies is found to be very similar to the one obtained in the initial numerical analysis. Results for the downscaled prototype model tower shown more dispersion than the results observed in the numerical investigation due to the influence of the boundary conditions in the model. The research finally applies the structural damage alteration indexes studied to the detection of degradation in a real scale structure in an operational environment. An installation consisting of 3 full-scale medium-voltage power transmission towers is constructed. An experimental modal analysis campaign is performed on the central tower of the installation by introducing a series of intentionally made structural alterations on the structure. Spectral indicators developed are applied to the detection of those structural modifications with noticeable success. Cases involving changes in the structural components of the tower are successfully detected. Changes in the interface between power lines and their supports of the tower are hardly noticeable using this methodology. Results of this investigation show that spectral domain damage indicators present some advantages over modal domain and temporal domain based indicators such as convenient condensing procedures without loss of information through the Fourier transform, added post-process simplicity and enhanced sensitivity to degradation that state of the art indexes.Es coneix com monitorització de la salut estructural a l'adquisició, validació i anàlisis de dades tècniques que faciliten la presa de decisions al llarg del cicle de vida d'un sistema. Aquesta tecnologia és resultat de la convergència tecnològica d'altres disciplines, com la monitorització operacional per màquines rotatòries i les tècniques d'assaig no destructiu. Els mètodes d'assaig basats en vibracions presenten el major grau de maduresa d'entre totes elles. Malgrat que la pràctica industrial sovint usa informació condensada en el domini modal, les dades en domini espectral son per naturalesa més completes i requereixen de menys post-procés. La utilització del domini espectral requereix desenvolupar nous indicadors d'alteració ja que la major part de la literatura existent se centra en indicadors basats en el domini modal. Es proposa una metodologia integrada per a la avaluació d'alguns indicadors d'alteració estructural en domini modal basats en vibració i aplicats a la monitorització de la salut estructural. Aquests indicadors, referits com a CFDAC i SCIs, estan basats en la correlació entre les matrius de covariància generades a partir de les funcions de resposta en freqüència obtingudes mitjançant anàlisi modal experimental. Es realitza una extensa campanya numèrica en una estructura senzilla (una placa d'alumini quadrada i encastada) a través d'una multitud d'estats estructuralment alterats per avaluar la sensibilitat i l'estabilitat dels indicadors enfront els paràmetres d?adquisició més comuns. En segon lloc, també s?avalua la capacitat dels indicadors per avaluar l'alteració estructural introduïda en cada cas. L'anàlisi numèrica s'utilitza a continuació per observar una possible relació entre els indicadors proposats i la rigidesa residual avaluada com a variació relativa respecte el seu valor intacte. Finalment, la metodologia numèric proposada s'aplica a una tipologia estructural diferent i més complexa, una estructura reticulada 3d que reprodueix una torre de transmissió d'energia elèctrica a escala per investigar la validesa de la metodologia en altres configuracions estructurals. Alguns dels casos estudiats a la campanya numèrica es reprodueixen experimentalment en un parell d?espècimens de placa d'alumini i en un prototip a escala de torre de transmissió elèctrica. Els anàlisis d'estabilitat numèrics sobre els indicadors es reprodueixen experimentalment, tot confirmant els resultats obtinguts. Per les plaques d'alumini, s'estudia la relació entre els indicadors i la rigidesa residual mostrant una correlació molt propera amb els resultats numèrics. La sensibilitat dels indicadors en la detecció de diferents tipologies de dany també s'observa molt similar als casos numèrics. Pere altra banda, els resultats experimentals sobre el prototip de torre a escala presenten més dispersió respecte a la corresponent campanya numèrica degut a la variabilitat en les condicions de contorn. Els indicadors proposats s'apliquen finalment en la detecció d'alteracions estructurals en una torre a escala real en condicions operacionals. Es construeix una línia que consisteix en tres torres de mitja tensió i s'executen anàlisis modals experimentals en la torre central de la mencionada instal·lació tot introduint una sèrie d'alteracions estructurals intencionals. Els indicadors espectrals presentats s'apliquen a la detecció de dites alteracions amb un èxit apreciable. Els casos que incorporen canvis en els membres de l'estructura son detectats amb èxit, mentre que la detecció en els casos que incorporen modificacions sobre les interfícies cable-estructura son més difusament detectables. Els resultats de la investigació mostren que els indicadors estructurals espectrals estudiats presenten algunes avantatges sobre els indicadors basats en domini com ara un procés de condensació més senzill sense pèrdua d'informació vibratòria (...

Numerical and experimental investigation of spectral domain vibration based indicators for structural health monitoring

Structural health monitoring has been defined as the acquisition, validation and analysis of technical data to facilitate life- cycle management decisions. It is the result of a convergent path from many previous existing disciplines the two most influential being condition monitoring for rotary machinery and non-destructive testing. Vibration based testing presents the greatest stage of maturity of all non-destructive techniques applied to structural health monitoring. Although modal domain use is convention, spectral domain data is by nature more complete in information and requires less manipulation. The use of spectral-domain measurements brings the need to develop new damage detection indicators, as much of the literature existing is focused on modal derived damage indicators. In this work, an integrated methodology for the evaluation of some spectral domain vibration based indicators for structural health monitoring is proposed. These indicators, namely the CFDAC and SCIs, are based on the correlation between covariance matrices of frequency response functions obtained from experimental modal analysis. An extensive numerical campaign is performed on a simple structure (consisting on a 1-edge clamped square aluminium plate) over multiple structural alteration scenarios to assess the sensibility and stability of the proposed indexes in front of common acquisition parameters. The ability of the proposed indicators to assess structural alteration progression is also evaluated. This numerical analysis is used as well to observe the relationship between proposed indicators and the residual stiffness of the simple structure evaluated in terms of relative shift from the pristine condition. Finally, the numerical methodology proposed is applied to a different and more complex typology of structure, a 3d latticed and downscaled power transmission tower to investigate the validity of the methodology for other structural configurations. Some of the cases studied in the numeric campaign are later reproduced in experimental scenarios using two specimens of aluminium plates and a downscaled prototype of a power transmission tower. Stability analysis on the indicators are reproduced and confirmed. For the aluminium plates, the relationship between indicators and residual stiffness is also obtained, showing close agreement with numerical data. Sensibility of the indicators to detect different damage typologies is found to be very similar to the one obtained in the initial numerical analysis. Results for the downscaled prototype model tower shown more dispersion than the results observed in the numerical investigation due to the influence of the boundary conditions in the model. The research finally applies the structural damage alteration indexes studied to the detection of degradation in a real scale structure in an operational environment. An installation consisting of 3 full-scale medium-voltage power transmission towers is constructed. An experimental modal analysis campaign is performed on the central tower of the installation by introducing a series of intentionally made structural alterations on the structure. Spectral indicators developed are applied to the detection of those structural modifications with noticeable success. Cases involving changes in the structural components of the tower are successfully detected. Changes in the interface between power lines and their supports of the tower are hardly noticeable using this methodology. Results of this investigation show that spectral domain damage indicators present some advantages over modal domain and temporal domain based indicators such as convenient condensing procedures without loss of information through the Fourier transform, added post-process simplicity and enhanced sensitivity to degradation that state of the art indexes.Es coneix com monitorització de la salut estructural a l'adquisició, validació i anàlisis de dades tècniques que faciliten la presa de decisions al llarg del cicle de vida d'un sistema. Aquesta tecnologia és resultat de la convergència tecnològica d'altres disciplines, com la monitorització operacional per màquines rotatòries i les tècniques d'assaig no destructiu. Els mètodes d'assaig basats en vibracions presenten el major grau de maduresa d'entre totes elles. Malgrat que la pràctica industrial sovint usa informació condensada en el domini modal, les dades en domini espectral son per naturalesa més completes i requereixen de menys post-procés. La utilització del domini espectral requereix desenvolupar nous indicadors d'alteració ja que la major part de la literatura existent se centra en indicadors basats en el domini modal. Es proposa una metodologia integrada per a la avaluació d'alguns indicadors d'alteració estructural en domini modal basats en vibració i aplicats a la monitorització de la salut estructural. Aquests indicadors, referits com a CFDAC i SCIs, estan basats en la correlació entre les matrius de covariància generades a partir de les funcions de resposta en freqüència obtingudes mitjançant anàlisi modal experimental. Es realitza una extensa campanya numèrica en una estructura senzilla (una placa d'alumini quadrada i encastada) a través d'una multitud d'estats estructuralment alterats per avaluar la sensibilitat i l'estabilitat dels indicadors enfront els paràmetres d?adquisició més comuns. En segon lloc, també s?avalua la capacitat dels indicadors per avaluar l'alteració estructural introduïda en cada cas. L'anàlisi numèrica s'utilitza a continuació per observar una possible relació entre els indicadors proposats i la rigidesa residual avaluada com a variació relativa respecte el seu valor intacte. Finalment, la metodologia numèric proposada s'aplica a una tipologia estructural diferent i més complexa, una estructura reticulada 3d que reprodueix una torre de transmissió d'energia elèctrica a escala per investigar la validesa de la metodologia en altres configuracions estructurals. Alguns dels casos estudiats a la campanya numèrica es reprodueixen experimentalment en un parell d?espècimens de placa d'alumini i en un prototip a escala de torre de transmissió elèctrica. Els anàlisis d'estabilitat numèrics sobre els indicadors es reprodueixen experimentalment, tot confirmant els resultats obtinguts. Per les plaques d'alumini, s'estudia la relació entre els indicadors i la rigidesa residual mostrant una correlació molt propera amb els resultats numèrics. La sensibilitat dels indicadors en la detecció de diferents tipologies de dany també s'observa molt similar als casos numèrics. Pere altra banda, els resultats experimentals sobre el prototip de torre a escala presenten més dispersió respecte a la corresponent campanya numèrica degut a la variabilitat en les condicions de contorn. Els indicadors proposats s'apliquen finalment en la detecció d'alteracions estructurals en una torre a escala real en condicions operacionals. Es construeix una línia que consisteix en tres torres de mitja tensió i s'executen anàlisis modals experimentals en la torre central de la mencionada instal·lació tot introduint una sèrie d'alteracions estructurals intencionals. Els indicadors espectrals presentats s'apliquen a la detecció de dites alteracions amb un èxit apreciable. Els casos que incorporen canvis en els membres de l'estructura son detectats amb èxit, mentre que la detecció en els casos que incorporen modificacions sobre les interfícies cable-estructura son més difusament detectables. Els resultats de la investigació mostren que els indicadors estructurals espectrals estudiats presenten algunes avantatges sobre els indicadors basats en domini com ara un procés de condensació més senzill sense pèrdua d'informació vibratòria (...)Postprint (published version

Adaptive, High-Resolution Ultrasound Phased Array Imaging for use in the Inspection of Laser Brazed Joints in the Automotive Sector

The inspection of welded and brazed joints has been performed in several industries using ultrasonic phased array. In the automotive sector, many of the current standards for brazed joint inspection do not apply due to the high variations in surface geometry and limited accessibility to the inspection region. As the automotive industry looks to integrate laser brazing into the production process, the need to determine the size and geometry of the joint, as well as the presence of any defects, is desirable to ensure product quality and reduce costs. Currently, the use of destructive techniques, such as cross-sectioning, is employed in the inspection process, with the ultimate desire being the shift to non-destructive methods. With this in mind, ultrasonic techniques have been investigated as a possible testing method. Ultrasound techniques have evolved over the decades, starting from a single element and eventually moving to phased array techniques. Recently, the investigation of the full matrix capture method has become popular in the field of ultrasound imaging. This technique, which separates the data acquisition process from the image formation process poses a viable solution to the inspection of laser brazed joints due to the ability to compensate for varying surfaces in post-processing.In this work, we make use of this technique, deriving the image formation process as an inverse problem for an arbitrary set of ultrasonic emitters and receivers. From this, the image formation process becomes equivalent to solving the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation. By approximating the solutions to such an equation using the ray series expansion, an estimation of the solutions can be found in a time-efficient manner. When these solutions are found, the inverse process can be rewritten as a weighted, time-delayed summation of the acquired ultrasonic data. In current work, further approximations to this image formation process are often made; however, in the inspection of the laser braze process, these approximations are found to degrade image quality in a number of cases. In this work, we propose our second order corrections as a viable solution to increase the limit under which ultrasound imaging can currently occur. This is accomplished through the design of an ultrasonic array transducer and the manufacturing of a series of simulated defects, with the final assessment being performed on real joints.These techniques were found to improve imaging in a select set of samples when the radius of curvature dropped below 2 mm. In these cases, the use of the amplitude weighting was found to drastically improve system resolution, allowing for the determination of joint size, geometry and the presence of defects

Surface global irradiance assessed by three different methods

Three methods will be used to evaluate the surface global irradiance: radiative transfer theory, empirical regression, and artificial neural networks (ANN). Radiative transfer is the fundamental theory that describes the propagation of radiation through a medium; empirical regression predicts surface global irradiance in simple parameterizations; artificial neural network, as an artificial intelligence technique, can also be tried to assess the surface global irradiance. These three approaches are studied in the present work. Data from the station “EL IDEAM” were used in the modeling experiments built upon these approaches to evaluate the daily transparency, also known as clearness index. We found out that the optimal inputs for artificial neural networks are extraterrestrial irradiance, surface relative humidity, and a pollution index based on particulate matter of sizes less than 10µm (PM 10 ). Surface relative humidity was suggested in a regression trial under meteorological conditions of “EL IDEAM”. By means of the programming code DISORT for the solution of the radiative transfer equation, daily irradiance characteristics were analyzed, and a hybrid model was created. Our results showed that artificial neural network produces higher scores than the other methods, though advantages and drawbacks are also discussed and compared.Maestrí

Automatic Detectors for Underwater Soundscape Measurements

Environmental impact regulations require that marine industrial operators quantify their contribution to underwater noise scenes. Automation of such assessments becomes feasible with the successful categorisation of sounds into broader classes based on source types – biological, anthropogenic and physical. Previous approaches to passive acoustic monitoring have mostly been limited to a few specific sources of interest. In this study, source-independent signal detectors are developed and a framework is presented for the automatic categorisation of underwater sounds into the aforementioned classes