Digital image processing - analysis of fibre orientation in paper sheets

The basic principle of forming paper is the same whether the task is performed in a laboratory or on a full scale production unit: A suspension consisting of essentially water and wood fibres is drained through a permeable surface that retains the fibres. The remaining water in the sheet thus obtained is removed by pressing and drying.

It is since long known that the properties of the final paper are to a large degree determined by the distribution of fibres in the sheet. In order to establish the relationships between the characteristics of paper products and fibre orientation, it is necessary that methods are available for accurately analyzing the orientation in the different layers of the sheet. This is a topic within the research activities of STFI-Packforsk.

Through this Master¿s thesis project, STFI-Packforsk would like to survey different image analysis techniques for 2-D feature detection (for example wavelet transforms, steerable filters etc.) and to evaluate their applicability for determining fibre orientation distributions.

Aim of the project:
¿ Survey the state-of-the-art image processing tools, and evaluate their potential to be used for the analysis of fibre orientation.
¿ Determine how fibre orientation data are best presented.
¿ Create a Matlab tool in which the most suitable method(s) is implemented; alternatively establish an analysis procedure that can later be used in a more routine fashion.

The thesis should preferably be written in English