Marine biofouling resistance rating using image analysis

Biofouling on ship hulls can cause increased fuel consumption and the global spread of nonindigenous species. The shipping industry utilizes fouling control coatings (FCC) to prevent biofouling from occurring hull. evaluation standards for performance FCC are based manual inspections, which unavoidably induce some degree subjectivity. A standardized recognition model using image analysis would provide a more objective basis FCC. For this purpose, several coated panels were immersed in ocean at CoaST Maritime Test Centre an exposure period six weeks, whereafter, fully covered with biofouling. program ilastik was then successfully used train pixel classification model, could simple segmentation different categories detected surface. From segmentation, coverage percentage determined. percentages stand alone information or be combination guidelines European Chemicals Agency calculate resistance rating (FRR). FRR obtained compared values panels.