Semi-automatic detection and measurement of cracks in concrete elements in digital photos using image processing

Abstract

Cracking is inevitable in ordinary reinforced concrete construction, yet it should be controlled to guarantee adequate serviceability and durability. Crack patterns analysis is essential for diagnosis, monitoring and maintenance, to identify malfunctioning or unsafe situations. In addition, crack patterns can be indicators of the stress distribution in the concrete and the governing internal forces in a region. A method to search and measure cracks in RGB images of concrete elements has been developed and implemented. The algorithm uses several digital image-processing tools to detect the measure the cracks width and orientation, featuring these tools are the spatial filters called "orientation kernels" developed specially for detecting the angle and width of the cracks.