Automated image segmentation and analysis of rock piles in an open-pit mine

摘要

Measurement and image analysis of 3D surface profiledata of blasted rock piles in an open-pit mine are presented.A proof-of-concept/demonstration project into determining thesize distribution of the visible rocks on the pile was performed.The results demonstrate the capacity to collect high resolution3D surface profile data using a high-end two-axis scanning laserrange-finder. Furthermore, automated image analysis was appliedto this data to identify and size the rocks on the pile. Areas ofvery fine particles, too small to individually detect, are able to bedetected and classified as areas-of-fines. Detection of these areasof-fines is extremely important as the amount of fine material isa key factor in evaluating blasting outcomes. The algorithms toperform this segmentation and classification analysis are outlinedand results are shown in the form of images and sizing graphs