Methods of detection of power transmission lines components using image analysis

Introduction of modern, automatic methods of technical diagnostics is very important nowadays. Among numerous technical objects of high importance power transmission lines are required to be diagnosed regularly. Considering the difficulties in performing their inspection due to their extensive length and large dimensions of particular elements, there is a need of developing and aiding currently used diagnostic techniques. A group of the methods of diagnostics of such lines is based on the vision inspection both with use of regular television (TV) and also infrared cameras. The authors of the paper focused on applying methods of image processing and analysis in order to detect components of power lines in images gathered during vision inspections. An approach to defects detection on the basis of images obtained by a regular TV and infrared camera was presented. The results of the research indicated that special approaches are needed to be performed, mainly because of a very composed and variable background in the images.