JUNGLE VISION. I: EFFECTS OF DISTANCE, HORIZONTAL PLACEMENT, AND SITE ON PERSONNEL DETECTION IN A SEMIDECIDUOUS TROPICAL FOREST

Abstract

To furnish control data for future tests of visual performance aids in the Canal Zone, detection thresholds for uniformed human targets were established in the semideciduous tropical forest near the end of the dry season. Thirty infantry observers, with normal or better vision, were presented 40 randomly appearing targets in a 120-degree field of search at three different sites. Overall detection thresholds (point of 50% detectability) averaged approximately 60 feet with significant differences found among sites. One hundred feet described the near-limit of target detectability. Tropical vegetation, consisting primarily of small vines, lianas, and shrubs, was the predominant deterrent to target detection. Horizontal target placement, individual differences among observers, past experience, immediate practice, and prevailing levels of ambient illumination had little or no effect on target detectability within the ranges investigated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0447213

Entities

People

  • D. A. Dobbins

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Birds
  • Data Analysis
  • Detection
  • Ecology
  • Engineering
  • Government Procurement
  • Military Research
  • Night Vision
  • Site Selection
  • Sites
  • Target Detection
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Tropical Forests
  • Vegetation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Urban Planning and Geography.