aMachine Vision Laboratory, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Abstract:
This paper describes a system for the acquisition and analysis of 3D data from the surfaces of coarse aggregate particles. The technique uses laser triangulation to acquire data from the upper hemispheres of particles passing along a conveyor belt. Methods of determining particle size and form in three dimensions are described and a new approach to the quantification of angularity is presented. The algorithm uses mathematical morphology to provide a geometrically meaningful interpretation of particle shape. The relative advantages of 2D and 3D analysis of aggregate particles are discussed, and results are presented which demonstrate the validity of this approach.