Estimating the size composition of sediment surfaces through image analysis.

his paper describes a technique to extract grain size information from area l images of sediment surfaces. An edge-detection algorithm is used to obtai n the article boundaries and segment the image Ito individual grains. Furth er processing of the segmented image can result in detailed information abo ut grain size, position, orientation and, depending on type of image, expos ure. The images analysed in this paper were obtained by;er altimeter scans of sediment surfaces laboratory conditions. Further development of the meth od could harness photo-grammetric methods which are currently under develop ment as a means of obtaining suitable images. Alternatively, carefully lit photographs have the potential to provide sufficient contrast at grain edge s or the successful implementation of the image-processing technique. There fore, is paper can be regarded as an interim ep towards the provision of an improved method for estimating surface sizes and composition, The results presented are sufficiently encouraging to make held trials, probably with o ther image types, an attractive possibility.