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Concrete Crack Identification Using a UAV Incorporating Hybrid Image Processing
Hyunjun Kim1, Junhwa Lee2, Eunjong Ahn3
1School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Korea. guswns3@unist.ac.kr.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 8, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a new method for concrete crack assessment using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and hybrid image processing. The system accurately measures crack width and length, improving structural maintenance efficiency and safety.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Structural Health Monitoring
- Robotics
Background:
- Manual concrete crack assessment is subjective, time-consuming, and potentially unsafe.
- Existing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications lack precise crack width and length measurements due to distance estimation challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced crack identification strategy combining UAV technology with hybrid image processing.
- To accurately estimate crack width and length, overcoming limitations of current UAV-based inspection methods.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a camera, ultrasonic displacement sensor, and WiFi module on a UAV for crack imaging and distance measurement.
- Application of hybrid image binarization for precise crack width estimation and minimal length data loss.
Main Results:
- The proposed system successfully measures cracks with widths greater than 0.1 mm.
- Achieved a maximum crack length estimation error of 7.3%.
Conclusions:
- The developed UAV-based system offers an accurate and efficient solution for concrete crack assessment.
- This technology enhances structural maintenance by providing reliable crack data, improving safety and reducing costs.
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