Wheat class identification using monochrome images

Citation

Manickavasagan, A., Sathya, G., Jayas, D.S., White, N.D.G. (2008). Wheat class identification using monochrome images. Journal of Cereal Science, [online] 47(3), 518-527. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcs.2007.06.008

Abstract

Wheat class identification by bulk sample analysis using a machine vision method would be helpful for automation of grain handling, binning and shipping operations in grain elevators. A machine vision system with a monochrome camera was used to identify eight western Canadian wheat classes at four moisture levels (11%, 14%, 17% and 20% wet basis) by bulk sample analysis (n=100 images for each group of samples). Grayscale images (1024×768 pixels) of the grain bulk were captured by the monochrome camera, and stored on a data acquisition system. Algorithms were developed to extract 32 textural features automatically from the grayscale images. The mean gray values of the western Canadian wheat classes ranged between 106 and 143, and it was the highest for Canada Prairie Spring Red and the lowest for Canada Western Extra Strong and Canada Western Red Winter. The mean gray values of the wheat samples were significantly higher at 17% moisture content and lower at 11% moisture content among the tested moisture levels (α=0.05). The overall classification accuracies of a quadratic discriminant function were 93.8%, 92.5%, 92.0% and 94.4% when the wheat classes were at 11%, 14%, 17% and 20% moisture contents, respectively. Similarly, the accuracies of a linear discriminant function were 96.1%, 95.0%, 95.4% and 96.3% at 11%, 14%, 17% and 20% moisture contents, respectively. When the wheat classes were identified irrespective of moisture levels (images of the four moisture level grains in each class were mixed together), the accuracy was 89.8% and 85.4% for quadratic and linear discriminant functions, respectively. A monochrome image analysis system has the potential to use for online identification of classes in wheat handling facilities. However, further research is required to determine the performance of the developed method for impurities in bulk grain such as foreign material and dockage. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication date

2008-05-01