Author(s)

S. Thiel & R.J. Wiltshire

Abstract

An investigation in the automated detection of Blue-Green Algae S. Thiel, R.J. Wiltshire Department of Mathematics and Computing, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Wales, CF37 1DL, UK ABSTRACT In order to determine water quality, it is important to detect particular organisms, for example Blue-Green Algae. Currently, the detection of these algae is done manually. This paper describes a first investigation of the automatic detection of Blue-Green Algae. Samples of algae were put under a microscope and transferred to a computer. Image processing techniques were then applied to the image to improve the quality and enhance certain features. In particular, a Thresh- olding LoG operator was successfully implemented to isolate the probable organisms. Detection was achieved with the aid of an automated cell find- ing algorithm and texture analysis, which incorporated the biological key. Currently two species of Blue-Green Algae have been detected and further species are now bei

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