Digital sieving-Matlab based 3-D image analysis

A new image analysis technique for determining the three-dimensional size and shape distribution of coarse particles has been developed. It entails acquiring a pair of images, one each of the maximum and minimum projected area of the particles. Glow-In-the-Dark beads were used to create luminous background, thus it is named the GID method. In this study the size and shape distribution of four coarse-grained samples, size varies from 2 to 20 cm, have been analyzed. The size distribution of the samples obtained from the GID analysis is comparable to sieve analysis results, and has an extra advantage of being applicable in the field. The algorithm was developed in Matlab; therefore users could make some optimization in the program to meet their own needs as the program code is open source.

► The manuscript introduces a new 3-D image analysis method, named as GID. ► It is suitable for field application. ► The GID method has provided a result comparable to the sieve analysis.