Calculation of bedding angles inclination from drill core digital images

In this paper, we describe a new technique for the automatic orientation of bedding in drill core from digital images. Images are planar pictures of the drill core, and we show that it is possible to determine layer orientation without rotating the core on the full circumference. More precisely, we show that angle information can be extracted by applying image processing and a mathematical description of bedding trace on the core. The angles’ estimation is done by adapting the Hough transform technique. This work is part of a more important project of our laboratory that aims to develop a drill core image analysis software.