The Segmentation of Neutron Digital Radiography Image through the Edge Detection Method

Abstract

The digital image processing is one way to manipulate one or more digital images. Image segmentation has an essential role in the field of image analysis. The aim of this study was to develop an application to perform digital image processing of neutron digital radiographic images, hoping to improve the image quality of the digital images produced. The quality of edge detection could be used for the introduction of neutron digital radiographic image patterns through artificial intelligence. Interaction of neutrons with the matter mainly by nuclear reaction, elastic, and inelastic scattering. A neutron can quickly enter into a nucleus of an atom and cause a reaction. It is because a neutron has no charge. Neutrons can be used for digital imaging due to high-resolution information from deep layers of the material. The attenuated neutron beam in neutron radiography are passing through the investigated object. The object in a uniform neutron beam is irradiated to obtain an image neutron. The technique used in segmenting the neutron radiography in this study was a digital technique using a camera with a charge-coupled device (CCD), which was deemed more efficient technique compared to the conventional one. Through this technique, images could be displayed directly on the monitor without going through the film washing process. Edge detection methods were implemented in the algorithm program. It was the first step to complement the image information where edges characterize object boundaries. It is useful for the process of segmenting and identifying objects in neutron digital radiography images. The edge detection methods used in this study were Sobel, Prewitt, Canny, and Laplacian of Gaussian. According to the results of the image that have been tested for edge detection, the best image was carried out by the Canny operator because the method is more explicit. The obtained edges were more connected than the other methods which are still broken. The Canny technique provided edge gradient orientation which resulted in a proper localization.