Title

Infrared thermography for asphalt crack imaging and automated detection

Authors

Authors

A. A. Oloufa; H. S. Mahgoub; H. Ali;Trb

Comments

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Keywords

Engineering, Civil; Transportation Science & Technology

Abstract

A research project evaluated the application of infrared thermography for the detection of asphalt cracking. Such detection has generally relied on image processing of pictures and videos of asphalt produced by analog and digital cameras that operate in the visual range of light. The presence of shadows, poor light conditions, white cracks, and a variety of other problems have presented serious challenges to automated crack identification and detection in this frequency region. The research reported here is primarily aimed at testing the hypothesis that asphalt cracks cause changes to surface conditions and emissivity, leading to perceived temperature differentials that can be exploited by infrared detectors in cameras. The research involved the production of tens of images from both conventional and infrared cameras. Several parameters were evaluated for both flexible and rigid pavements, including choice of infrared detection range, various lenses, and exposure during day and night hours. Under the right conditions, infrared thermography can yield superior results and allow the identification of tiny cracks about 1 mm in width, which are virtually impossible to detect with conventional cameras.

Journal Title

Pavement Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Storage 2004

Issue/Number

1889

Publication Date

1-1-2004

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

126

Last Page

133

WOS Identifier

WOS:000227657600014

ISSN

0361-1981; 0-309-09484-4

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