Visual cues for landmine detection

James J. Staszewski; Alan D. Davison; Julia A. Tischuk; David J. Dippel

doi:10.1117/12.723479

3 May 2007 Visual cues for landmine detection

James J. Staszewski, Alan D. Davison, Julia A. Tischuk, David J. Dippel

Proceedings Volume 6553, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets XII; 65531H (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723479
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2007, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Can human vision supplement the information that handheld landmine detection equipment provides its operators to increase detection rates and reduce the hazard of the task? Contradictory viewpoints exist regarding the viability of visual detection of landmines. Assuming both positions are credible, this work aims to reconcile them by exploring the visual information produced by landmine burial and how any visible signatures change as a function of time in a natural environment. Its objective is to acquire objective, foundational knowledge on which training could be based and subsequently evaluated. A representative set of demilitarized landmines were buried at a field site with bare soil and vegetated surfaces using doctrinal procedures. High resolution photographs of the ground surface were taken for approximately one month starting in April 2006. Photos taken immediately after burial show clearly visible surface signatures. Their features change with time and weather exposure, but the patterns they define persist, as photos taken a month later show. An analysis exploiting the perceptual sensitivity of expert observers showed signature photos to domain experts with instructions to identify the cues and patterns that defined the signatures. Analysis of experts' verbal descriptions identified a small set of easily communicable cues that characterize signatures and their changes over the duration of observation. Findings suggest that visual detection training is viable and has potential to enhance detection capabilities. The photos and descriptions generated offer materials for designing such training and testing its utility. Plans for investigating the generality of the findings, especially potential limiting conditions, are discussed.

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James J. Staszewski, Alan D. Davison, Julia A. Tischuk, and David J. Dippel "Visual cues for landmine detection", Proc. SPIE 6553, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets XII, 65531H (3 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723479

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KEYWORDS

Land mines

Visualization

Mining

Photography

Vegetation

Control systems

Information visualization

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