PURPOSES : This study proposes a method to automatically analyze the shape of asphalt concrete aggregate using computer image analysis technology. METHODS : To develop automatic aggregate shape analysis technology, we developed an aggregate shape boundary analysis algorithm that combines Watershed algorithm and morphology technology. After the algorithm was developed, it was mounted on a separate prototype and compared with the manual aggregate shape analysis method. RESULTS : As a result of the algorithm comparison, the accuracy of the aggregate shape analysis was about 90%, and there was a problem that some noise occurred. This problem was derived from external roughness, the shape of the overlapped aggregate, and sand as the main causes. Therefore, we devised a method to analyze the shape of the aggregate by adjusting the external illuminance constant or using an artificial intelligence model. CONCLUSIONS : The results of this study can be used as basic research data to help improve quality control techniques in the production of asphalt concrete in the future.

This paper presents the image processing technique for detecting the aggregate shape. From the verification test, it was exhibited that the shape of aggregate can be detected by the developed program.