SBIR Phase II: Characterization of Three Dimensional Discontinuity Properties from Digital Images of Rock Masses

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目将进一步研究两种用于表征岩体裂缝的创新技术。第一种技术涉及图像处理算法，用于从数字图像中的裂缝痕迹中提取3D裂缝特性。 第二种技术涉及使用激光扫描仪提取暴露的断裂表面的3D特性。这两种技术可以很好地相互补充，并且在某些情况下，最好使用一种或另一种或两种技术来分析压裂的特性。第二阶段研究的第一个目标是继续改进这两种技术，并将所有各种算法集成到一个用户友好的软件工具中。第二个目标是通过综合研究和实地研究，彻底评估这两种技术的误差来源，并为各种应用开发一套推荐的实地程序和设备，以优化技术并尽量减少误差。第三个目标是与软件的潜在客户以及对软件开发和验证合作感兴趣的团体建立关系。一旦开发出测试版软件，该软件将提供给一些客户进行验证和评估。在岩石工程市场的广泛范围内，这种创新已经确定了四个不同的细分市场。 每个细分市场都有一个单独的最终用途：采矿，岩土工程，石油和环境。 市场研究和来自各种市场参与者的支持信表明，市场需要目前由岩石工程专业人员手动执行的任务的自动化。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will further the investigation of two innovative technologies for characterizing fractures in rock masses. The first technology involves image-processing algorithms for the extraction of 3D fracture properties from fracture traces in digital images. The second technology involves the use of laser-scanners to extract the 3D properties of exposed fracture surfaces. The two technologies complement each other well and there are situations where the characterization of fracturing is best analyzed with one or the other or both technologies. The first objective of the Phase II research is to continue to improve the two technologies, and to integrate all the various algorithms into a single user-friendly software tool. The second objective is to thoroughly evaluate sources of error in both technologies through synthetic and field studies, and to develop a set of recommended field procedures and equipment for various applications to optimize the techniques and minimize errors. The third objective is to develop relationships with potential customers for the software and also groups interested in collaborating on software development and validation. Once a beta version of the software is developed, this software will be provided to some customers for validation and assessment.Within the broad scope of the rock engineering market, four distinct market segments have been identified for this innovation. Each market segment has a separate end-use application: mining, geotechnical, petroleum, and environment. Market research and letters of support from various market participants have demonstrated that a market need exists for automation of tasks currently performed manually by rock engineering professionals.