Complex Background Removal Method for Video of an Inclined Cable Based on UAV Detection of Structural Vibration Frequencies

Abstract

The safety of inclined cables is fundamental to the integrity of cable‐stayed bridges. The vibrational frequencies of these cables form the foundation for assessing the cable force. Traditional contact measurement methods necessitate the installation of sensors on each cable, incurring substantial costs. In scenarios where camera placement adjacent to an inclined cable is impractical, noncontact approaches such as video capture via unmanned aerial vehicles prove effective. However, unmanned aerial vehicle‐captured videos present a challenge due to their complex background, impeding cable feature recognition. In our study, we initially utilized the Region Growing algorithm for background subtraction. To enhance this method, we integrated it with the unique structural characteristics of cables, leading to the creation of the RGv2 algorithm. This novel algorithm offers increased processing speed and improved accuracy. Furthermore, we combined our method with empirical mode decomposition for effective detection of cable frequency characteristics. We also implemented a hybrid method, combining the K‐Means and line segment detector algorithms with empirical mode decomposition. Compared to deep learning techniques for background subtraction, our proposed method demonstrates superior computational efficiency and promising potential for measuring vibrational frequencies of inclined cables.