1. This paper proposes a mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) and transfer learning to detect pavement defects in complex backgrounds.
2. The performance of the Mask R-CNN was compared with faster region-based convolutional neural networks (Faster R-CNNs) under the transfer of six well-known backbone networks, and the results confirmed that the classification accuracy of the two algorithms (Mask R-CNN and Faster R-CNN) was consistent and reached 100%.
3. The segmentation performance of the Mask R-CNN was further analyzed at three learning rates (LRs), and it had an ideal detection effect on multi-object and multi-class defects on pavement surfaces.
This article is generally reliable, as it provides detailed information about its research methods, results, and conclusions. It also cites relevant literature to support its claims. However, there are some potential biases that should be noted. For example, the authors do not discuss any potential risks associated with using this technology for pavement defect detection or any possible counterarguments to their findings. Additionally, they do not present both sides equally when discussing their results; instead, they focus mainly on how successful their method is without exploring other alternatives or approaches that could be used for this purpose. Furthermore, there is no discussion of any promotional content or partiality in the article which could lead to bias in its conclusions. All in all, this article is generally reliable but should be read with caution due to potential biases mentioned above.