Optical cues for buried landmine detection

Charles A. Hibbitts; James Staszewski; Andrew Cempa; Vincent Sha; Stephen Abraham

doi:10.1117/12.818753

4 May 2009 Optical cues for buried landmine detection

Charles A. Hibbitts, James Staszewski, Andrew Cempa, Vincent Sha, Stephen Abraham

Proceedings Volume 7303, Detection and Sensing of Mines, Explosive Objects, and Obscured Targets XIV; 73031Q (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818753
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2009, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Objects buried in unimproved surfaces can be inferred from the disturbance of the soil above them. We have found for mines emplaced according to U.S. military doctrine in clay-rich soils, that imaging at visible, shortwave infrared, and thermal infrared are effective at different times under various illumination conditions, and that these techniques can be synergistic. Complementary visible - thermal infrared laboratory spectral measurements show that grain size differences associated with disturbed soils can make them more reflective or emissive than undisturbed soils. However, the field measurements demonstrate that grain size effects are not significant under passive visible and shortwave infrared illumination. Instead, shortwave infrared (1.55 - 1.7 μm) imaging, in particular, is effective because the roughened disturbed soil casts a pattern of shadows under a wide range of illumination conditions that are also emphasized by a background of undisturbed soil possessing few contrast variations.

Citation Download Citation

Charles A. Hibbitts, James Staszewski, Andrew Cempa, Vincent Sha, and Stephen Abraham "Optical cues for buried landmine detection", Proc. SPIE 7303, Detection and Sensing of Mines, Explosive Objects, and Obscured Targets XIV, 73031Q (4 May 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818753

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