Optical granulometry is the process of measuring the different grain sizes in a granular material, based on a
photograph
A photograph (also known as a photo, image, or picture) is an image created by light falling on a photosensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic image sensor, such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are now create ...
. Technology has been created to analyze a photograph and create
statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ''wikt:Statistik#German, Statistik'', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of ...
based on what the picture portrays. This information is vital in maintaining machinery in various trades worldwide.
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic via ...
companies can use optical granulometry to analyze inactive or moving rock to quantify the size of these fragments.
Forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...
companies can zero in on wood chip sizes without stopping the production process, and minimize sizing errors.
With more
photoanalysis Photoanalysis (or photo analysis) refers to the study of pictures to compile various types of data, for example, to measure the size distribution of virtually anything that can be captured by photo. Photoanalysis technology has changed the way min ...
technologies being produced, mining companies have shown an increased interest in these types of systems because of their ability to maintain efficiency throughout the mining process. Companies are saving millions of dollars annually because of this new technology, and are cutting back on maintenance costs on equipment.
In order for optical granulometry to be completely successful, an accurate photo must be taken – under sufficient
lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylig ...
, and using proper technology – to obtain quantified results.
[( Franklin and Katsabanis 1996), page 115] If these requirements are met, an image analysis system can be implemented.
The process
Software uses four basic steps in determining the average size of material:
See the Wikipedia article on
Photoanalysis Photoanalysis (or photo analysis) refers to the study of pictures to compile various types of data, for example, to measure the size distribution of virtually anything that can be captured by photo. Photoanalysis technology has changed the way min ...
to see how mining, forestry and agricultural companies are using this technology to improve quality control techniques.
See also
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Particle-size distribution
The particle-size distribution (PSD) of a powder, or granular material, or particles dispersed in fluid, is a list of values or a mathematical function that defines the relative amount, typically by mass, of particles present according to size. Sig ...
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Grain size
Grain size (or particle size) is the diameter of individual grains of sediment, or the lithified particles in clastic rocks. The term may also be applied to other granular materials. This is different from the crystallite size, which refer ...
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Granulometry (morphology)
:merge with Optical granulometry
In mathematical morphology, granulometry is an approach to compute a size distribution of grains in binary images, using a series of morphological opening operations. It was introduced by Georges Matheron in the 1 ...
Notes
References
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''Measurement of Blast Fragmentation: Proceedings of a Workshop Held Parallel With Fragblast-5'', Montreal, 26–29 August 1996, by John A. Franklin, Takis Katsabanis, Published by Taylor & Francis, 1996,
External links
Free Web Application for Particle and Grain Analysis
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Mining techniques
Image processing
Granulometric analyses