Color image segmentation based multilevel thresholding for detection of cracks and bug-holes in concrete surface images using optimization methods.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Color image segmentation based multilevel thresholding for detection of cracks and bug-holes in concrete surface images using optimization methods.
Authors: Asgarinejad, Mahdi1 (AUTHOR), Bitaraf, Maryam1 (AUTHOR) maryam.bitaraf@ut.ac.ir, Ramezanianpour, Amir Mohammad1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Advances in Structural Engineering. Jul2026, Vol. 29 Issue 10, p1973-1996. 24p.
Subjects: Thresholding algorithms, Mathematical optimization, Structural health monitoring, Machine learning, Image segmentation
Abstract: Automation in crack and bug-hole detection through non-destructive evaluation methods remains a major challenge in Structural Health Monitoring. Typically, machine learning models are fed with original, grayscale, or binary formats of concrete images. Original images retain excessive color data, grayscale formats reduce color without preserving structural relevance, and binary images often lack sufficient detail for assessing damage type and severity. To overcome these limitations, multilevel colored image thresholding using meta-heuristic algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization, Genetic Algorithm, Jaya and Sine Cosine Algorithm—guided by Otsu's objective function. This technique enhances the contrast, edges, and texture boundaries, which serve as crucial primitives for object recognition, compared to original images. Additionally, it increases pixel connectivity, thereby simplifying image analysis for deep learning and machine learning applications. In fact, this method reduces the number of colors by an average of 97.3%, significantly decreasing computational load, while maintaining a high Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of 0.873. Experimental results demonstrate that the optimized images outperform the original, grayscale, and binary formats in both object detection performance and precise evaluation of damage severity and progression. This fusion of optimization and perceptual image representation presents a promising advancement for automated structural damage assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Advances in Structural Engineering is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 194727731
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Color image segmentation based multilevel thresholding for detection of cracks and bug-holes in concrete surface images using optimization methods.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Asgarinejad%2C+Mahdi%22">Asgarinejad, Mahdi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bitaraf%2C+Maryam%22">Bitaraf, Maryam</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> maryam.bitaraf@ut.ac.ir</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ramezanianpour%2C+Amir+Mohammad%22">Ramezanianpour, Amir Mohammad</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Advances+in+Structural+Engineering%22">Advances in Structural Engineering</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 29 Issue 10, p1973-1996. 24p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thresholding+algorithms%22">Thresholding algorithms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+optimization%22">Mathematical optimization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+health+monitoring%22">Structural health monitoring</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Machine+learning%22">Machine learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Image+segmentation%22">Image segmentation</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Automation in crack and bug-hole detection through non-destructive evaluation methods remains a major challenge in Structural Health Monitoring. Typically, machine learning models are fed with original, grayscale, or binary formats of concrete images. Original images retain excessive color data, grayscale formats reduce color without preserving structural relevance, and binary images often lack sufficient detail for assessing damage type and severity. To overcome these limitations, multilevel colored image thresholding using meta-heuristic algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization, Genetic Algorithm, Jaya and Sine Cosine Algorithm—guided by Otsu's objective function. This technique enhances the contrast, edges, and texture boundaries, which serve as crucial primitives for object recognition, compared to original images. Additionally, it increases pixel connectivity, thereby simplifying image analysis for deep learning and machine learning applications. In fact, this method reduces the number of colors by an average of 97.3%, significantly decreasing computational load, while maintaining a high Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of 0.873. Experimental results demonstrate that the optimized images outperform the original, grayscale, and binary formats in both object detection performance and precise evaluation of damage severity and progression. This fusion of optimization and perceptual image representation presents a promising advancement for automated structural damage assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Advances in Structural Engineering is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194727731
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/13694332251375204
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 24
        StartPage: 1973
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Thresholding algorithms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematical optimization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Structural health monitoring
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Machine learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Image segmentation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Color image segmentation based multilevel thresholding for detection of cracks and bug-holes in concrete surface images using optimization methods.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Asgarinejad, Mahdi
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Bitaraf, Maryam
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ramezanianpour, Amir Mohammad
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 13694332
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 29
            – Type: issue
              Value: 10
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Advances in Structural Engineering
              Type: main
ResultId 1