Automated Wave Height Measurement and Analysis Through Image Processing: A Computer Vision Approach for Oceanography

Abstract

Wave height is an important parameter in ocean and coastal engineering. It is used to design coastal structures, such as breakwaters and seawalls and to predict the impact of waves on coastal areas, such as erosion and flooding. Traditional methods for measuring wave height, such as wave gauges are expensive and time-consuming to install and maintain. Image processing techniques offer a more cost-effective and efficient way to measure wave height. In this paper, a wave height detection algorithm based on image processing is presented. The algorithm uses a combination of edge detection and thresholding techniques to identify the wave crests in a sequence of images. The wave height is then calculated as the distance between the wave crests. The algorithm was tested on a dataset of images of ocean waves and was shown to be accurate and reliable.