Log Grading and Knot Identification by Oblique X-ray Scanning

The presence and location of knots within cut lumber substantially controls the physical properties and commercial value of the material. Thus, there is great practical interest in developing ways of choosing the cutting pattern for a log in a sawmill to optimize the arrangement of knots in the resulting cut lumber. X-rays can image the interior of a log to detect the arrangement of the knots; however, traditional radiography measurements are two-dimensional in character and cannot provide the needed depth information. Conversely, computed tomography (CT) can provide the required spatial details but is challenging in practice because of its complexity and cost. The research here aims to overcome these concerns by employing a novel ‘oblique’ scanning technique that uses radiography to determine knot orientations with both reasonable accuracy and low cost. Image processing and detection algorithms were developed to locate and orientate the knots automatically within the scanned logs. Detection metrics of Precision and Recall were used to analyze the performance of the detection algorithm. Results indicate that the oblique scanning method is a viable way to detect and orientate knots within logs with both reasonable accuracy and low cost compared to existing methods. In initial tests, an average circumferential angle accuracy within 15 degrees was achieved, with the detection algorithm being able to detect between 60% to 80% of the knots present within the log.