An autoadaptive edge-detection algorithm for flame and fire image processing

The determination of flame or fire edges is the process of identifying a boundary between the area where there is thermochemical reaction and those without. It is a precursor to image-based flame monitoring, early fire detection, fire evaluation, and the determination of flame and fire parameters. Several traditional edge-detection methods have been tested to identify flame edges, but the results achieved have been disappointing. Some research works related to flame and fire edge detection were reported for different applications; however, the methods do not emphasize the continuity and clarity of the flame and fire edges. A computing algorithm is thus proposed to define flame and fire edges clearly and continuously. The algorithm detects the coarse and superfluous edges in a flame/fire image first and then identifies the edges of the flame/fire and removes the irrelevant artifacts. The autoadaptive feature of the algorithm ensures that the primary symbolic flame/fire edges are identified for different scenarios. Experimental results for different flame images and video frames proved the effectiveness and robustness of the algorithm.